Initially, the club room beneath Turnmills pub was sparse with little or no décor. Thus, Trade was born on October 29, 1990, and, as such, became the capital's first legal after-hours club. Turnmills was the first London venue to be offered such a license. It was only after Turnmills owner John Newman decided to promote Saturday evenings himself that Laurence was offered the alternative timeslot from 3.00 am onwards on Sunday mornings, after John had secured an all-night license from Islington Council. Xanadu ran successfully for around 5-6 months. Iain, Laurence’s band partner in Big Bang, sold tickets on the door. Xanadu opened in early-1990 and ran on Saturday evenings from 10.00 pm to 2.30 am. The history of Trade is inextricably linked with the evolution of Turnmills as a club venue. Laurence was a member of the electronic music duo Big Bang when he opened Trade. Trade was the second nightclub Laurence had run at Turnmills his first was Xanadu, which he co-hosted with the club promoter Robert Pereno. Trade originated as an underground club night beneath Turnmills pub in Clerkenwell Road. 6 25th Anniversary, History - The Final.4 Laurence Malice biography and clubbing history.
