Bath Street owner John Devereux reflects on closing this weekend. Photo by Gerard O'Brien.

Last drinks will be called at a Dunedin institution this weekend.

The Bath Street nightclub has been Dunedin's home of house, jungle, drum'n'bass, hip hop, trip hop, electro and dubstep music for the past 15 years.

During that time, it has hosted some of the biggest international names in the dance music genre, including Trinity Roots, Concord Dawn and DJs Mylo, Noisia, Sir-vere and P-Money.

But the party will be over after a final fling this Saturday.

Owner John Devereux said yesterday he believed it was the longest-running dance club under the same management in New Zealand or Australia.

"It's probably the longest-running dance club in Australasia, but certainly in New Zealand. Although in many ways it doesn't seem that long ago, to be honest."

Bath Street was established in May 1995 by Christiaan Arns and was bought by Mr Devereux and business partner Louisa Baillie in 1998.

"I had the Inch Bar before that, which built up my knowledge of bars pretty quickly. But the game's changed a lot over the years. Before 2000, we had to be closed by 3am on a Sunday. The rest of the time we were 24-hour," he said.

"In those days, we'd take all the risk. Once outside promoters got involved, you'd take the bar and they'd take the door, which took away the risk. But it's got harder and harder as I've got older and older, to be honest."

The club was closing because its lease had expired and there were plans to develop the building into inner-city accommodation, Mr Devereux said.

"It's definitely sad to see the end of it, but sometimes you've got to put things to bed. It's not an easy game now. You've got to really work bars. It's hard work."

Mr Devereux, who also owns the Carousel cocktail bar, said he hoped to open another dance club.

"I've been looking for suitable venues, but there aren't many options around Dunedin where you can make noise."

Bath Street will have its last international act, DJ Scientific, tonight, followed by a house music night on Friday and a 12-hour drum'n'bass party from 10pm on Saturday.

- nigel.benson@odt.co.nz