While Oxford has offered students and local residents a busy nightlife for many years, Witney has also opened a number of popular nightclubs in recent times, although they don’t always last.
Here are some photos of happy gatherings from the Oxford Mail archives.
Maxwell's has been a popular drinking venue in Queen Street in Oxford for many years.
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In Witney, Fat Lil's, Izi, and The Palace were once big names as clubs.
The club iZi closed in 2013, with its director blaming increased competition and the doubling of its business rates.
Shaun Hartless, 56, had run the Market Square venue for 12 years but took the decision to close in the early hours yesterday.
Club regulars expressed their shock and some suggested that its closure could see other town centre bars shut.
Mr Hartless said at the time: “We have been struggling, especially since Wetherspoon’s opened. But the biggest blow was the doubling of our rates, from £56,000 to £129,000 a year, 10 months ago.
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"We were making £500 a week and suddenly the rates went up by £600 a week. It was the end of the story then.”
Fat Lil's still operates as a music venue in Witney.
The comedy and music club has been owned and run by Paul and Fiona Spink for 15 years.
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This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.
Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk
Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF
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