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Birmingham Nightclubs of the Past - Memories

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Lemonella said:
I used to go there 1966-67 and it was a great venue. You could go onto the roof and I had a break up with a boyfriend on that roof. He asked me for my ring and threw it across. I had to ask to be let in during the day so that I could look for it but I never found it. Bittersweet memories!
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I used the West End in the 60's , as a fine upstanding member of the mod following it was taboo for us to use there , so it was a no go area for me also . When the West End ceased to function , The Top Rank Suite opened, supposedly as a the be all and end all after the WE , what a waste of time that turned out to be . That left only The Whisky and The Locarno , I got married in 1970 , after which the dance venues stopped
 
Kandor said:
Mine was Barbarellas..I was a Member in the 70's.
I saw Hot Chocolate there, plus old Raymond Frogatt used to be on a lot..(whatever happened to him)?
It was in Barbarellas I met a girl sitting on her own..I tapped her on the back and when she turned round I KNEW why she was on her own...she had a mouth so wide that when she smiled she got lipstick on her ears and she was the only girl I've ever met with one eyebrow..actually, it looked more like a John Mcenroe sweatband..man was she hairy..
She could also teach a limpet a few things about clinging on ...I couldn't get rid of her..
Good days though.
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Alberta said:
Before it was Mothers the club in Erdington high street was the Carlton Club(that takes me back a long,long time)

Remember Raymond Froggatt playing at the Chesterfield Club, Chester Rd, Castle Bromwich close to where Aldi supermarket is now.

What was the name of the club in the Swan centre that caused a stir in the 70s with topless waitresses?.
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I used to go to the Carlton in Erdington. We used to dance to records. Later went to see Peter and Gordon there.
Raymond Froggatt is still going strong on the Country scene
 
Lora Dixons dance studios on the corner of Navigation street and John Bright street, above what had been "Zismans" the shop where Teddy Boys got their suits and by the mid 60's had become "Drum Land" ( Drum Specialists shop) was where we had many good nights dancing to the Spencer Davis group. That was when they plaid for the love of it as I doubt they had much of the entrance money left after the fee for the room. The beer that was bought by fans and put on top of the piano was endless. There never was any left at the end of the night.
Brian Rhead.
 
JohnJames said:
I remember the Dolce Vita on the corner of Hurst Street and Smallbrook Queensway. It was a bit of a supper club that catered for a slightly older crowd but some good acts performed there. I remember seeing Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon there in 1971.
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I worked at La Dolce Vita from 1972 to 1974. I shared a dressing room with the Bandwagon as Johnny Johnson regarded himself as too much of a star to share his. Hopefully, I will have managed to attach a staff photo from then.
 

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impis said:
I worked at La Dolce Vita from 1972 to 1974. I shared a dressing room with the Bandwagon as Johnny Johnson regarded himself as too much of a star to share his. Hopefully, I will have managed to attach a staff photo from then.
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I used to go there when I worked at the Alexandra theatre. We used to have our end of panto parties there. Some of the games we played at those parties were hilarious. First went when "puss in boots" was the panto, with millicent martin as the star. Really loved working at the alex. Also went to see the Nolans at La Dolce Vita in the mid 80's. Food was excellent in there.
 
The photos were taken in 1973/4. The man in the 3rd photo was a regular customer who used to visit the club every Thursday or Friday night. Always alone. Always sat at the same table. Always had his photo with the cabaret artist every week. I was flattered when he wanted his photo with me too. He was never disrespectful, always polite, and always came on his own. I have no idea of any further information about him, not even his name. I probably knew his first name, at least, at one time, but I can't remember it now. I was actually underage and shouldn't have been working there, but I loved it and the manager agreed that I could stay as long as i didn't drink any alcohol. And I didn't. I left soon after to go to college and completed teacher training in 1977.
 
impis said:
The photos were taken in 1973/4. The man in the 3rd photo was a regular customer who used to visit the club every Thursday or Friday night. Always alone. Always sat at the same table. Always had his photo with the cabaret artist every week. I was flattered when he wanted his photo with me too. He was never disrespectful, always polite, and always came on his own. I have no idea of any further information about him, not even his name. I probably knew his first name, at least, at one time, but I can't remember it now. I was actually underage and shouldn't have been working there, but I loved it and the manager agreed that I could stay as long as i didn't drink any alcohol. And I didn't. I left soon after to go to college and completed teacher training in 1977.
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That wasn't long after I left school. It surely set you up on the correct path, to go to college & do teacher training. Well done. I would have said you was about 18 in that photo. I on the other hand could not get away with it as I was small for my age. I know the feeling about working somewhere you shouldn't due to being under age. I used to work at ansells brewery instead of going to school. I only got the job because I knew someone that worked there, & was just loading the lorries. Had many offers of alcohol, but always refused as I did not like the taste. Had a quick taste of my dad's beer without him knowing.
 
I was there for the music! LOL! It was another world - somewhere to escape to, and I loved it there. I was 16 when I started there and just 18 when i left. My mom let me work there because there was a staff bus which brought me home at the end of each night - right to the door. Just a minibus - went all round Brum dropping people off - and I often didn't get home til 3am. But at least it was safe.
And I was a good girl.
 
impis said:
I was there for the music! LOL! It was another world - somewhere to escape to, and I loved it there. I was 16 when I started there and just 18 when i left. My mom let me work there because there was a staff bus which brought me home at the end of each night - right to the door. Just a minibus - went all round Brum dropping people off - and I often didn't get home til 3am. But at least it was safe.
And I was a good girl.
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As long as you enjoyed yourself & was kept safe. Some girls, I can remember from those days, were not being good girls. At least you was taught well by your parents. I have managed to work out that you are roughly 3 years older than me. They were really great days then. Unfortunately, I just can not remember when it was that I started working at the alex on the panto's & working there when Mike Batt was there with the wombles. Really loved those days & the work. Had so much fun at la dolce vita.
 
Elmdon Boy said:
I bet your still lovely Impis.
I would have been about 5 years older than you then, in fact still am!
You've got 2 fans in me and michaelwicks:D.
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I agree with you Elmdon boy. Loveliness comes from within. Impis, you have definitely got 2 fans in me & Elmdon boy. We think alike.
 
David Quick said:
Thanks to this forum I can finally put a name to this 'music haunt over the Co-op' which I could never remember the name of - The Rainbow Suite of course. My time there would have been c1966. Rockin' Berries were often on there ('He's In Town') but I also saw The Kinks and The Faces there. Mod hangout, all suits and floral ties, girls in long leather & suede. David Q
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Where else did you frequent at that time ?
 
Williamstreeter said:
Where else did you frequent at that time ?
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The Carlton in Erdington, frequently. I saw a reference to the Plaza in Rookery Road, Handsworth earlier - I seem to recall going there. There was another place by a lake which I can't for the life of me remember. I left Birmingham when I was 21 so I barely find my way round it let alone recall some of these places now. David Q
 
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