90s Rave Scene | The People's Archive

A selection of our crowdsourced archive documenting the ’90s rave scene in the UK. The collection features images from Maximes at Wigan Pier, Pleasuredome in Bolton, and various outdoor raves held across the UK.

Kaos Weekender Pontins Great Yarmouth, 1990.
Kaos Weekender, Pontins Great Yarmouth, 1990.

Photo © Darren Tutt/The People’s Archive®

Bedroom Raver. North London, 1991.
Bedroom Raver. North London, 1991.

Photo © Hanna Chalmers/The People’s Archive®

Hanna “This is me at the age of fourteen in my bedroom in Holloway, North London in 1991, listening to pirate radio surrounded by my rave flyers. I used to play Rush FM loudly and frequently called them to do a shout out to my friends.”
90s Rave Flyers. Spondon, Derby, 1990s.
Spondon, Derby, 1990s.

Photo © Anthony Shapcott/The People’s Archive®

Anthony “With my brother on the PlayStation back in the day. Flyers plastered all over the bedroom wall”.

Raver at Wigan Pier, 1990s.
Raver at Wigan Pier, 1990s.

Photo © Darren/The People’s Archive®

Maximes, Wigan Pier, 1991.
Wigan Pier Nightclub, 1990s.

Photo © Darren/The People’s Archive®

Hackett's, Blackpool, 1991.
Hackett's, Blackpool, 1991.

Photo © Darren/The People’s Archive®

Hackett's, Blackpool, 1991.
Hackett's, Blackpool, 1991.

Photo © Darren/The People’s Archive®

Hackett's, Blackpool, 1991.
Hackett's, Blackpool, 1991.

Photo © Darren/The People’s Archive®

Hackett's, Blackpool, 1991.
Hackett's, Blackpool, 1991.

Photo © Darren/The People’s Archive®

Hackett's, Blackpool, 1991.
Hackett's, Blackpool, 1991.

Photo © Darren/The People’s Archive®

Revenge Rave, Wigan, 1991.
Revenge Rave, Wigan, 1991.

Photo © David Stansfield/The People’s Archive®

Perception Rave at Long Marston Airfield, 1991.
Perception Rave at Long Marston Airfield, 1991.

Photo © Geth/The People’s Archive.

Newport Ravers, early 1990s.
Newport Ravers, early 1990s.

Photo © Tutti Oi/The People’s Archive®

Chilling on a Sunday afternoon. Newport, 1993.
Chilling on a Sunday afternoon. Newport, 1993.

Photo © Tutti Oi/The People’s Archive®

Chilling on a Sunday afternoon. Newport, 1993.
Chilling on a Sunday afternoon. Newport, 1993.

Photo © Tutti Oi/The People’s Archive®

A free travellers party near Newport, Wales, 1991.
A free travellers party near Newport, Wales, 1991.

Photo © Tutti Oi/The People’s Archive®

Darren ”After driving around all night in the Oxford area looking for the free travellers party, stopping to listen throughout, we had no luck. Then with daylight breaking, we headed back to Newport. It was then, we saw some like minded people who said another one was happening near by. We then stumbled across this free party under some forestry/woodlands shelter.”

A free travellers party near Newport, Wales, 1991.
A free travellers party near Newport, Wales, 1991.

Photo © Tutti Oi/The People’s Archive®

A free travellers party near Newport, Wales, 1991.
A free travellers party near Newport, Wales, 1991.

Photo © Tutti Oi/The People’s Archive®

Heading to The Pleasuredrome, Farnworth, 1991.
Heading to The Pleasuredrome, Farnworth, 1991.

Photo © Andrew Sanson/The People’s Archive®

Andrew “Myself and two of my best pals who I grew up with. We were massively into the dance and rave scene right from the very start. Great memories and times spent travelling around the North to the popular clubs back then. We spent the entire week looking forward to the weekend and deciding where to go – always wanted to be in three places at once as there was so much going on. Great times being young during a fantastic scene. This was taken enroute to the Pleasuredrome in Farnworth, Bolton, 1991.”

Maximes, Wigan Pier, Summer, 1992.
Maximes at Wigan Pier Nightclub. Summer, 1992.

Photo © Stephen Wells/The People’s Archive®

West Yorkshire Police notice in relation to the Blackburn Warehouse parties.
West Yorkshire Police notice in relation to the Blackburn Warehouse parties.

Photo © The People’s Archive®

Gallery published 27th March, 2021.

All Images © The People’s Archive®/British Culture Archive, all rights reserved.

SUPPORT BCA

British Culture Archive is an independent archive and cultural resource that was set up through a genuine passion for photography. Since 2017, we have supported British photography by publishing and exhibiting works from photographers and by unearthing and giving a global platform to previously unseen photography.

Our online galleries and exhibitions will always be free for everyone. Public support and funding is vital for us to continue documenting and preserving important photography. If you appreciate the work we do, please consider making a donation through the link provided below.