Your old batteries will of had it mate, Even if they work at all, they wont last any time on a night out.
If money no object get one of the new lithium batteries, say a 12v 10amp minimum, there light as a feather and last a good few hrs, expensive at a £200 ish
If your on a budget go your local car battery specialist (like manbat) a 12V 17ah sealed battery will do the job for hours just a little bit heavy £30ish
Or buy one of the new deben tracer lamps, the battery is a built in lithium and they are a new low energy bulb, i have one there great and light as a feather, complete with char