It had a one night stand at Leeds University, a flirtation with the Corn Exchange and a brief relationship with Mission – but nothing could compare with those long, dirty weekends underneath the Dark Arches.

Now bosses behind one of Leeds's biggest and most extravagant club nights are convinced Victoria Works, to give their new home it's official title, will effectively be Granary Wharf II.

"It's got that same slightly grubby, messy feel to it." said boss Shaun
Wilson. "Which is exactly what we wanted to regain with a new venue
because that's what everyone associated with Granary Wharf.

"Everyone absolutely loved that, combined with the fact it was a big
monthly event and everything we did after Blank Canvas didn't seem to come close.

"The Corn Exchange was pretty but it didn't have the right kind of atmosphere and Fed worked well in Mission but a lot of people longed for that sense of the monthly 'big event.'

"But with Victoria Works we have everything and we hope to get back to that same ambience we had when we were still at the dark arches."

From the moment Federation were asked to leave Granary Wharf at the end of 2006 Wilson and the team started scouring Leeds looking for suitable venues.

Their attention turned to the same area to the south of the city centre which echoed the down-at-heel, postindustrial surroundings of their old
home.

Among the sites they considered were the vast Temple Mill – an historic former factory built in the style of an Egyptian temple – as well as a string of other buildings in the area.

But they finally settled on this former car body shop on Bowling Green Terrace in Holbeck which has now come back to life as Federation: The
Warehouse Sessions.

Wilson said: "We had several sites which made it onto a shortlist and
between us all we all agreed that this was undoubtedly the best.

"It was literally just a shell, most of the machinery which had been in there before had been removed and all that was left were some power cables hanging from the roof which, naturally, we've now removed.

"And in that respect it will also be like the Dark Arches because when we moved there we didn't have toilets or bars – it all had to be built from scratch – for a while we didn't even have mains
power.

"There was no point in making Victoria Works like a conventionally refurbished club or bar like Fibre or Mission because then there would be nothing to set it apart.

"So we've done very little to the place, which is intentional. There was no point in losing that gritty, raw feel. Instead we're going to do what we normally do and put in big light and sound shows
and entertainment.

"But there were plenty of other logistical problems which we had to resolve before we could relaunch and basically it's taken us almost a whole year to sort things out and get to where we are
now."

Locating slightly outside of the city centre has helped them jump through some of the hoops which are normally greater hurdles when staging an event like Federation.

Because there are little or no residences or businesses nearby issues of noise and disturbance have been reduced.

But will the location put off clubbers who'll be forced to travel some distance from the city centre to get to Victoria Works?

"I doubt it." said Wilson. "Granary Wharf was already that little bit away from the main drag and it never put anybody off.

"In fact we find people actually like the fact it's set a little bit away because it makes it feel so much more like an event. It feels a lot less like they're just going to another club."

Those unwilling to take the ten minute walk can always catch one of the
shuttle buses which have been specially laid on to transport Fed punters from just outside Fibre on Lower Briggate.

There have been a few other changes too. For a start the capacity – at a
staggering 1,800 – is 50 per cent bigger than their old home at Granary Wharf.

The event is also split three ways – The Engine Room, The Body Shop and The Loading Bay – with each area offering electro, more conventional house and some retro sounds.

And on top of old Fed favourites like Greg Myers, SAS, Stuart Robinson and Jason Guy they've already lined up Nick Bodyrox Bridges, who played
opening night, and The Freemasons will take to the decks over the coming
months.

But despite the improvements the team are keen to stress this is all about taking Fed back to its roots.

"The pressure's on now." said Wilson. "Because we like the idea that people want to see another Granary Wharf and this is the nearest thing you'll get to it.

"That just means we have to deliver, but we're on schedule with everything and we're very confident all our loyal Fed followers are gonna love this."

? Federation: The Warehouse Sessions takes place on the first Saturday of every month at Victoria Works, Bowling Green Terrace, Holbeck, Leeds, from 11pm – 5am.

For more information visit
www.clubfederation.com
www.myspace.com/club_federation
www.victoriaworksleeds.com or the
official Facebook Victoria Works
group.