Midnight is approaching, and in an old bank on West Street in Bristol a time warp appears to have opened up. A DJ spins a soul record while dancers in baggy trousers and Adidas Samba trainers shuffle, glide and spin like tops across the stripped wooden floors. Around me twentysomethings with sweaty faces grin at one another, many of them chanting the words to I Love You Baby by the Ambers.
The vibe is a throwback, but with the looks on show — from the aforementioned Sambas to the Fred Perry tracksuit tops and artfully baggy jeans — we could be backstage at London Fashion Week. Because on the city’s east side a very modern revolution is taking place. This is Bristol Northern Soul Club:
