The Hills Nightclub launches at The Alexandra Hills Hotel after venue revamp

With a rich history of hosting some of the world’s biggest artists, including INXS, this bayside nightclub has undergone a transformation aimed at returning it to its former glory.

A suburban nightclub which has hosted some of the biggest artists to play in Australia, including INXS, has begun a new era after a revamp it says will bring the venue back to its former glory.

The club, on the Alexandra Hills Hotel site, was formerly known as The Pit and The Squeeze Club.

It launched the rejuvenated venue on July 1 with internationally-renowned DJ Havana Brown who played to a packed crowd.

Now called The Hills Nightclub, the transformation comes after a difficult two years during the Covid-19 pandemic, when it closed several times and then struggled to attract partygoers after numerous lockdowns.

DJ Havana Brown and Andrew Wilson. Picture: Adam Shaw of AXIS PRODUCTIONS AU

Andrew Wilson, owner and director of Artist Collective Agency which was brought in by the owners of the hotel for the revamp, said locals had been looking for something fresh in their own backyard.

“The Alexandra Hills Hotel is an iconic venue that has been a staple venue for Redlands residents for many many years,” he said.

“Its nightclub has been a must do for the locals and attending it has been seen as somewhat of a right of passage if you grew up here.

The Hills Nightclub was packed for the relaunch, with DJ Havana Brown. Picture: Adam Shaw of AXIS PRODUCTIONS AU

“After Covid closed the venue and the intermittent opening and closing with each lockdown, the locals have been looking for something new and exciting that doesn’t require a huge taxi or Uber charge to get to and from.

“The Hills will fit this niche perfectly.”

Mr Wilson said they had upgraded the interior and added the disco ball as a soon to be iconic image for the new direction of the club.

He said they wanted to bring world-class entertainment to Redlands residents.

DJ Havana Brown at the launch of The Hills Nightclub. Picture: Adam Shaw of AXIS PRODUCTIONS AU

“The team at McGuires have a number of plans to improve every aspect of The Alexandra Hills Hotel and we’re just very privileged to be a part of it,” Mr Wilson said.

“Any upgrades to a local venue that invests back into its local area is a major benefit to the community.

“Bringing better and bigger entertainment from both a national and international level will be a great new change and it gives the local DJs, artists and production crews a chance to work with these top tier acts.

The crowd goes wild at the relaunch event. Picture: Adam Shaw of AXIS PRODUCTIONS AU

“It will also allow the Redlands locals to see some of their favourite acts in their own backyard, rather than constantly being dragged to the CBD or even Brisbane’s north.”

But the plans don’t stop there. Mr Wilson said their vision was to build it into a world-class multipurpose room, which could be a nightclub, a venue to host bands or serve as a sit-down room for comedy.

“We want to be on the tour posters of world class performers and touring shows, and creating a first class local is a huge step in that direction,” he said.

The relaunch event. Picture: Adam Shaw of AXIS PRODUCTIONS AU

“We respect the venue’s history. It used to play host to some of the biggest bands in the world like INXS.

“We are just bringing modern music to a historic venue and are once again restoring its bones to it’s former glory.

“We’d love to see bands like that return to our stage and for touring DJs to pop up in the club.

“We’re already in chats with national and international touring companies around their acts coming through in the coming summer and 2023 to make sure The Alex Hills Hotel is seen on their touring schedules.”