Mayhem nightclub this week sees its ten-year anniversary since it very first opened its doors.

It did so on Friday, September 30, 2005, with Lee Ryan from the boy band Blue making a star appearance to mark the occasion.

Since that time the club based in Warrior Square, Southend, has seen nearly two million customers go through its doors and welcomed a host of other glittering stars from Will.I.Am to the Prodigy, from Coolio to Busta Rhymes.

The club took over an empty basement, which had once been part of Keddies toy department. It’s since grown into one of Southend’s most popular nightspots, and with general manager Gary Stokes on the committee of the Purple Flag award which works to create a better, safer nightlife in the town, has pioneered now commonplace moves such as using polycarbonate glasses and having taxi marshalls to make sure people get home safely.

“We’ve also seen the biggest shake up of England’s licensing laws, seen the introduction of the smoke ban and have seen many fads in music come and go” said Gary Stokes, general manager of the club who has been there since day one. “The club scene has been in decline over the years, with 50 per cent being reported to close down which have opened in the last two years. We have continued to move forward and despite costs increasing, have managed to keep our prices not too different from when we first opened.”

Last week the club held a party to celebrate for friends and punters.

Gary added:” We are proud to have bought some of the biggest stars to the club, from television shows such as the Inbetweeners, Towie, Made in Chelsea and Geordie Shaws, to the biggest music stars of their time such as Neyo, Will.I.Am, Tinie Tempah, Clean Bandit."