Something’s Changed: Celebrating 40 Years of The New Adelphi Club, with a little help from Sowden & Sowden

Hull’s legendary New Adelphi Club is marking its 40th anniversary, and with a little help from its friends — including the creative minds at East Yorkshire creative agency Sowden & Sowden it’s celebrating in style. For four decades, The Adelphi has been a crucial player in the global music scene, offering a platform for emerging talent and playing host to some of the world’s most iconic musicians.

But recently, something’s changed.

In a special project that brought together local businesses and long-standing partners, Sowden & Sowden played a key role in helping The Adelphi embark on a new chapter. The A-Team loaded up a van and headed to a remote spot in the Peak District to collect a unique piece of musical history—15 of Pulp’s original flight cases, generously donated by the band. These cases, once crisscrossing the globe on world tours, have now found their final destination at The Adelphi, reimagined as part of a striking new bar structure.

A collaborative effort with the community at its heart

Working with a team of local legends—including Total Flooring, Joynson’s Catering Equipment, The Wood Shop, and The Common People like Pete, Gary, Al, Ruby, Jack, and Louis from Sowdens—the flight cases were transformed into a feature that now takes pride of place in the club’s main room bar. The bar not only serves up your favourite drinks but is also a piece of living history, with the original customs stickers and livery from Pulp’s tours on display.

Polly Sowden, co-owner of Sowden & Sowden, said,

"This project is more than a refurbishment—it’s a tribute to The Adelphi’s enduring place in the heart of Hull’s music scene. We’re honoured to have worked with such a brilliant team to bring this to life and proud to be part of The Adelphi’s journey as it steps into its next chapter.

“The magic of The Adelphi Club is its connection to the people," added Polly Sowden. "This project is a beautiful blend of local talent, iconic music history, and creative innovation. It’s partnerships like these that remind us why The Adelphi Club has been such a significant cultural force for the past four decades.

It’s a Different Class. They serve all your favourite drinks!

Visitors to The Adelphi can now enjoy their drinks from a bar that has seen more stages than most of us ever will. Stocked with an impressive range of spirits, craft cans, wine, cask ales, draught lagers, snacks, and merchandise, the bar has been designed to take the venue’s offering to the next level.

Behind the scenes, the space has also been fitted with a new hygiene safety floor, glass-washer machine, coolers, LED lighting, and display cabinets featuring awards like The UK Grassroots Music Venue of the Year and Paul Jackson’s Outstanding Achievement Award from the Music Venue Trust.

Celebrating 40 Years of cultural impact

The Adelphi’s success has always been driven by its connection to the community, and this transformation is no exception. A special shout-out goes to Andy and Chris Dimmack, Dave from Total Flooring, and the entire team involved in making the bar refit possible. It’s partnerships like these that reflect The Adelphi’s global cultural significance and ensure its future for years to come.

With this latest chapter, The Adelphi is gearing up for another decade of music, memories, and more. Here’s to the next milestone—bring on the 50th anniversary!

Building on a legacy of creativity and community

Sowden & Sowden's collaboration with The Adelphi Club is not new. The agency has previously supported the club with eye-catching digital marketing campaigns, including the #Adelphi30 initiative, which celebrated the club’s 30th anniversary. Their efforts reached over 300,000 people on social media and brought the club’s story to a new generation of music lovers.

The partnership between Sowden & Sowden and The Adelphi Club is a testament to the enduring impact of local creativity and community spirit. From digital campaigns to physical transformations, the agency has consistently played a role in amplifying the club’s voice.

For more information on Sowden & Sowden’s work with The New Adelphi Club and other projects, visit https://www.sowden-sowden.co.uk