Townhouse, the stalwart of the cool Exchange Quarter, is no more. It's soon to be replaced by something not entirely dissimilar called Chilli White.

The passing of this venue in its old form is a real shame since its been around for more than ten years now and along with the likes of Cuban Heels, Oporto, Arts Cafe and Pizza Express was one of the first to open in this end of town.

As a result it blazed a trail for all that followed, particularly on Assembly Street which also now boasts Cafe Rouge, Rehab, Superna and Fudge – none of which would probably have opened there without the three-storey flagship Townhouse.

For a whole generation of Loiners it represented a new brand of uber-fashionable venue offering modern surroundings inside a characterful period building – a blend which was typically Leeds in the burgeoning 1990s.

It was de rigeur then and though relatively passé now the team behind it deserve a pat on the back for creating a mini-institution which paved the way for others.

It may have gone, but for thousands of revellers with fond memories of the place, it will never be forgotten.