La Cheetah Club

La Cheetah Club opened in 2009 beneath Max’s Bar at 73 Queen Street, in Glasgow’s Merchant City. Dario Bernardi launched the venue after taking on the lease for Max’s; the premises had previously been occupied by The Twisted Wheel. Its name was taken from a famous salsa club, and entry is through the doors used for Max’s public entrance. The basement room is small, holding around 150 to 200 people.

The club’s compact room contains a bar and a prominent DJ booth, with a separate cloakroom. The booth is isolated from the room, and the venue has a Funktion-One sound system. Its programme has included electronic music and rock ’n’ roll, spanning styles such as techno, house, electro and dubstep, with local collectives and international DJs featured. Promoters running events there have included Midnight Bass, Roll Thru and Vibez.

Grahame “Wardy” Ward has worked as booker and programmer, as well as a resident DJ alongside Dom D’Sylva. Residents have also included Jamie Thomson, Jackmaster and Optimo. Recurring nights have featured Wardy and Dom D’Sylva, Nightwave, and the disco party Elisco. DJ and producer Nightwave’s Nightrave held events at the club over a five-year period by 2019, and the venue has hosted residencies by Nightwave, Objekt and Shanti Celeste. In 2024, La Cheetah marked its fifteenth anniversary with a programme that included Jeff Mills, Legowelt, Moxie and Objekt.