The Enigma @ V3 nightclub, Newport, Story

In 1998 the then Cotton Club nightclub owner had purchased, redeveloped and opened a unique new nightclub called V3 on Stow Hill, Newport, which had an amazing 65ft fibreglass dragon on the main dancefloor.  The imposing dragon called Pugin, was built in Carmarthen by Welsh artist David Petersen.  V3 then added green lights to its eyes, and a smoke machine in its mouth.   Due to getting only about 50 people through the V3 venue door on a Saturday night, the V3 owner approached local promoter Chrispian Lee asking if he would be interested in moving his successful 500 full to capacity weekly local DJ's Saturday house music event 'Enigma' over from Annabels nightclub next door, to V3 on a Saturday night.   Due to having previously worked with the V3 owner as a resident DJ at 'Dynamite' at the Cotton Club in the early nineties, and as Chrispian could see the huge potential of V3, he moved 'Enigma' from Annabels to V3 on Saturday nights from February 1999.

There were a few teething issues during the first month or so.  To ensure only the right clientele were allowed entry to the club, Chrispian enlisted Sam Dabb (Le Pub 'legend') as a door host to enforce the door policy and guest list, and things started to take off.

Due to 'Enigma' @ V3 club being a new club event, at first it was difficult getting big name DJ's to come to the venue, but by its 4th month DJ's including Ian Ossia, Joey Negro, Danielle Davoli, Miles Holloway & Elliot Eastwick graced the turntables at the event, with Mixmag, Muzik and Wax magazine all touring the club night within its first 6 months.    At first DJ agencies used to book DJ's to play early at 'Enigma' on their way to play late slots at the Escape club in Swansea, but as 'Enigma' @ V3 gained popularity, DJ's started requesting later slots at the event.   As word of the brilliant new house music event with a very friendy and enthusiastic crowd in Newport, South Wales spread amongst DJ's and their respective DJ agencies, DJ's including Graham Gold, Gordon Kaye, Norman Jay, Jon '00' Fleming, Pete Heller, Ferry Corsten, CJ Mackintosh, Darren Pearce, Lisa Pin Up and many more DJ'd at the weekly club night, with Mixmag, Muzik and Wax magazine all touring 'Enigma' @ V3 again.

With popular local DJ's Chrispian Leigh, Neil Young, Clarke Gibson, Richie Moulton, Dean Nightingale, Kris Kane, and a then young unknown Matt Kirk amongst others installed as the resident DJ's, a towering JBL stacked speaker system,  amazing lighting rig, 65ft smoke breathing dragon, illuminous 20ft inflatables, duracell dancers, video adverts on MTV, 700+ weekly clubbers from far and wide queueing down Stow Hill from 10am, Clubavison planning to visit and broadcast the event on TV just before its closure, 'Enigma' @ V3 was just about to explode, but disappointingly before it could, the club was forcibly shut down by the local authorities.