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Birmingham Nightclubs of the Past - Memories

  • Thread starter Thread starter mazbeth
  • Start date Start date
Thanks Dennis, Yes I remember them signs above the entrance, Frankie Laine was a favourite of my Wife's. mine was Frank Sinatra, both now long gone. Eric
 
mizzyjo said:
Don't forget the Cresta, Solihull and the Rum Runner, Broad Street. I don't suppose that was strictly a night club though was it. Still, some good times!!
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Hi all, I've just come across this thread and was interested to see the various mentions of the Cresta Night Club above the ice rink on Hobs Moat Road, Solihull.
We used to visit quite often and it was always a good night out without having to trek into town (Birmingham). Amongst others we saw Frankie Vaughan, Karl Denver and a young Freddie Starr as the singer in a rock group (assume The Midnighters).

Apart from the bar there was also a casino where you could have a flutter on the cards or roulette.
 
janetelfer said:
Hi all, I've just come across this thread and was interested to see the various mentions of the Cresta Night Club above the ice rink on Hobs Moat Road, Solihull.
We used to visit quite often and it was always a good night out without having to trek into town (Birmingham). Amongst others we saw Frankie Vaughan, Karl Denver and a young Freddie Starr as the singer in a rock group (assume The Midnighters).

Apart from the bar there was also a casino where you could have a flutter on the cards or rou
Click to expand...
 
Just to add my bit to a very memorable topic.....We watched The Rockin`Berries and The Barron Knights at the Cresta and we used to go to Kings in Great Barr and saw an up and coming comedian Gary Wilmott and Lyn Paul of the New Seekers and many others and not Forgetting the Night Out it would be really good for these type of Venues to bring back Cabaret Clubs as there is nowhere for Variety and Entertainment now...We saw a new rock and roll band called Showaddywaddy at Rebbecca`s and we saw The Drifters at either Barbarella`s or Rebecca`s......Our main club was The Top Rank on Thursday`s as well as Saturdays and we always had Hot Dog and bought The Sunday Mercury outside the main door before we went home we also went to the Lacarno now and again and the Tower Ballroom....When we were kids we would try and listen to 60`s groups outside of The Carlton Club I recall Spencer Davis Group was of them and then of course it went on to be the famous Mothers venue and then unfortunately moved to the Belfry and when we was kids we would listen to The Idle Race at The Tyburn House in the passageway and does anyone remember The Disco`s at the Tyburn House and The Hunters Moon and The Hunters Moon at one time had a Cabaret Club such memorable times.
 
57-63 Gunter 63-67 Paget said:
Just to add my bit to a very memorable topic.....We watched The Rockin`Berries and The Barron Knights at the Cresta and we used to go to Kings in Great Barr and saw an up and coming comedian Gary Wilmott and Lyn Paul of the New Seekers and many others and not Forgetting the Night Out it would be really good for these type of Venues to bring back Cabaret Clubs as there is nowhere for Variety and Entertainment now...We saw a new rock and roll band called Showaddywaddy at Rebbecca`s and we saw The Drifters at either Barbarella`s or Rebecca`s......Our main club was The Top Rank on Thursday`s as well as Saturdays and we always had Hot Dog and bought The Sunday Mercury outside the main door before we went home we also went to the Lacarno now and again and the Tower Ballroom....When we were kids we would try and listen to 60`s groups outside of The Carlton Club I recall Spencer Davis Group was of them and then of course it went on to be the famous Mothers venue and then unfortunately moved to the Belfry and when we was kids we would listen to The Idle Race at The Tyburn House in the passageway and does anyone remember The Disco`s at the Tyburn House and The Hunters Moon and The Hunters Moon at one time had a Cabaret Club such memorable times.
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Also went to Kings in Great Barr . Barbarella's always had Top class acts . Top Rank on a Saturday seemed massive . Anyone remember The Romulus on the Hagley Road and Faces Nightclub at Fiveways. As you say Caberet was great live entertainment Chicken and Chips in a basket . Great acts some are still perfoming . Plus if a comedian was on you never went to the toilet through the fear of abuse you might get . One more thing does anyone remember Hawkins Wine Bar with the laser show from 10 pm till closing.
 
Time Traveller 66 said:
Also went to Kings in Great Barr . Barbarella's always had Top class acts . Top Rank on a Saturday seemed massive . Anyone remember The Romulus on the Hagley Road and Faces Nightclub at Fiveways. As you say Caberet was great live entertainment Chicken and Chips in a basket . Great acts some are still perfoming . Plus if a comedian was on you never went to the toilet through the fear of abuse you might get . One more thing does anyone remember Hawkins Wine Bar with the laser show from 10 pm till closing.
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haha yes to not getting up to the loo when a comedian was on I remember Bernard Manning taking the * when I went to the loo at The Mackadown...I remember the names of The Romulus and Faces but I they were a couple of clubs I never got to......I don`t remember Hawkins Wine Bar I think it was after my time.
Thanks for jogging the brain.
 
57-63 Gunter 63-67 Paget said:
haha yes to not getting up to the loo when a comedian was on I remember Bernard Manning taking the * when I went to the loo at The Mackadown...I remember the names of The Romulus and Faces but I they were a couple of clubs I never got to......I don`t remember Hawkins Wine Bar I think it was after my time.
Thanks for jogging the brain.
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Hawkins Wine Bar was on the corner of Steelhouse Lane more early 1980s . I never went to Rum Runner . The Mackadown my mate also seen Bernard Manning there never heckle you never win . Fond memories of happy times . Birmingham had loads to offer either City Centre or Locally ie Cresta Club Mackadown Swan Yardley Bloomers etc .
 
Jayell said:
Hi Roy

I used to live opposite the Ambassadors Club in 1959. The Ambassadors was on Augustus Road at the junction with Norfolk Road in Edgbaston. Used to go out with a boy who worked there. Never went in there myself.

Judy
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I used to go with someone who parents belonged to the Ambassadors Club. We frequently went late on a Saturday evening after a movie (pictures) or a pub. This there any other information on the Ambassadors, could not find any.
 
janetelfer said:
Hi all, I've just come across this thread and was interested to see the various mentions of the Cresta Night Club above the ice rink on Hobs Moat Road, Solihull.
We used to visit quite often and it was always a good night out without having to trek into town (Birmingham). Amongst others we saw Frankie Vaughan, Karl Denver and a young Freddie Starr as the singer in a rock group (assume The Midnighters).

Apart from the bar there was also a casino where you could have a flutter on the cards or roulette.
Click to expand...
Hi Jane Telfer did you have a friend Jackie
 
Anybody remember the Oxford Club in Moseley? Opened in the afternoon and shut whenever...early hours usually. The Odd Spot was another mainly afternoon club and there was another which I can't remember the name of and Daddy Long Legs was dubious place to drink.
 
richardinwales said:
Anybody remember the Oxford Club in Moseley? Opened in the afternoon and shut whenever...early hours usually. The Odd Spot was another mainly afternoon club and there was another which I can't remember the name of and Daddy Long Legs was dubious place to drink.
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Went in there a couple of times as a guest. Was it a members only club?
 
Mercy said:
Anyone go to Bogarts top of new street above bier Keller . I worked the bar there in 1971. Great rock music, and live local bands , after work around 3.00am used go and eat two mixed grills and pour pernot into my glass of milk to wash it down, until they through us out in early hours of the morning.
also tow rope cafe was an all-nighter with so many crazy people after the clubs closed, I hung out there when I ran away from home, and just had the price of a cup of tea, and the lady working there turned a blind eye, when I slept on the seats.
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Mercy said:
Anyone go to Bogarts top of new street above bier Keller . I worked the bar there in 1971. Great rock music, and live local bands , after work around 3.00am used go and eat two mixed grills and pour pernot into my glass of milk to wash it down, until they through us out in early hours of the morning.
also tow rope cafe was an all-nighter with so many crazy people after the clubs closed, I hung out there when I ran away from home, and just had the price of a cup of tea, and the lady working there turned a blind eye, when I slept on the seats.
Click to expand...
Mercy said:
Anyone go to Bogarts top of new street above bier Keller . I worked the bar there in 1971. Great rock music, and live local bands , after work around 3.00am used go and eat two mixed grills and pour pernot into my glass of milk to wash it down, until they through us out in early hours of the morning.
also tow rope cafe was an all-nighter with so many crazy people after the clubs closed, I hung out there when I ran away from home, and just had the price of a cup of tea, and the lady working there turned a blind eye, when I slept on the seats.
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Hi Mercy, yes went to Bogarts for many years - loved it, all of it! Flashing light at the bar upstairs (Bogarts) to remind everyone the police had just arrived so stop doing anything illegal, a few people rush to the toilets!! lol. You might have been flashing the lights as bar staff. So disappointed when it closed. Ps hope life got better for you after running away from home.
 
jmadone said:
Went in there a couple of times as a guest. Was it a members only club?
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Yes Oxford Club was the bar in Oxford Hotel Moseley....yes open all day if your face was known....
Odd Spot Exeter St ,Holloway Head, afternoon drinking club ,mainly market traders , run by Trudy , became the Hot Spot when all day opening of pubs happened...and so became a strip club ..run by Patrick Lenahon
 
57-63 Gunter 63-67 Paget said:
Just to add my bit to a very memorable topic.....We watched The Rockin`Berries and The Barron Knights at the Cresta and we used to go to Kings in Great Barr and saw an up and coming comedian Gary Wilmott and Lyn Paul of the New Seekers and many others and not Forgetting the Night Out it would be really good for these type of Venues to bring back Cabaret Clubs as there is nowhere for Variety and Entertainment now...We saw a new rock and roll band called Showaddywaddy at Rebbecca`s and we saw The Drifters at either Barbarella`s or Rebecca`s......Our main club was The Top Rank on Thursday`s as well as Saturdays and we always had Hot Dog and bought The Sunday Mercury outside the main door before we went home we also went to the Lacarno now and again and the Tower Ballroom....When we were kids we would try and listen to 60`s groups outside of The Carlton Club I recall Spencer Davis Group was of them and then of course it went on to be the famous Mothers venue and then unfortunately moved to the Belfry and when we was kids we would listen to The Idle Race at The Tyburn House in the passageway and does anyone remember The Disco`s at the Tyburn House and The Hunters Moon and The Hunters Moon at one time had a Cabaret Club such memorable times.
Click to expand...
I recall going to Discos at the Hunters Moon on Thursdays
There was a guy next to DJ danced all night long.
 
I had a fight with Freddie Star! Well, not really a fight but when he was in brum he would have private Karate lessons from Eddie Daniels at the Shukokai club in Park St Digbeth in the afternoon. I happened to walk in and ended up sparring with Freddie and he was pretty good this was before the booze or whatever messed him up he was fit and fast.

Sadly Eddie Daniels, 8th Dan passed away last year but I've great memories of my time training under him, he was a nice, genuine bloke...and the club had a bar ;)
 
richardinwales said:
I had a fight with Freddie Star! Well, not really a fight but when he was in brum he would have private Karate lessons from Eddie Daniels at the Shukokai club in Park St Digbeth in the afternoon. I happened to walk in and ended up sparring with Freddie and he was pretty good this was before the booze or whatever messed him up he was fit and fast.

Sadly Eddie Daniels, 8th Dan passed away last year but I've great memories of my time training under him, he was a nice, genuine bloke...and the club had a bar ;)
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Sad to hear he passed away
I trained there 1978 onwards.
 
Donbogen said:
Sad to hear he passed away
I trained there 1978 onwards.
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More than likely that we shared the dojo at the same time somewhere along the way. I trained there (and these are guesses) 73 to about76 then moved from brum for while then moved back and trained again for a while and this went on until around 1980 (work kept moving me around). My wife used to come and wait in the bar, one night Eddie said 'if you can pull a pint your can work the bar' and she did on and off and Kimura took a shine to her on a visit lol.

Nice video of him here
 
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