PSV Club

The PSV, or the Public Service Vehicle Club was a prominent Caribbean social club and music venue in Hulme, Manchester, active between the 1980s and 1990s, just South of the city centre. Hulme is flanked by universities on one side and the working class suburbs of Moss Side and Old Trafford on the other. At this time, Margaret Thatcher was prime minister, the economy was in a deep recession and unemployment levels were high.

In 1981 there were mass protests and riots in the UK, a large majority close by in Moss Side. People needed a place to get together, to socialise especially in these conditions. Thats when the PSV was born. Originally the Russell Club, (a long established live music venue) a group of bus drivers, Pinch and Sonny Burton bought the place with the aim to create a social space for bus service staff and the local Caribbean community. Later it went on to become a nightclub and music venue, The factory and then The Caribbean club.

It quickly established itself as a pillar of Manchester’s reggae scene, hosting local sound systems and live nights with major stars from both the UK and Jamaica.

It had a large ground floor and a smaller upstairs floor which could be reached by stairs at either end of the building with a bar and dance area on each floor. The downstairs floor was usually packed with local people dancing, talking and queueing at the long bar with music varying from night to night; house, techno, ambient, soul, hip hop, rare groove. There was something for everyone. Upstairs was a much more intimate space playing mainly reggae music with soft seating making it a great place for a drink, smoke or a chat. The attached bar served delicious and authentic food, patties and goat curry.

Writing Credit: Tamzin Rowthorn