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Birmingham Nightclubs of the Past - Memories

  • Thread starter Thread starter mazbeth
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Country Road said:
Of all the nightclubs we went to, have to say the Locarno was a favourite, great atmosphere, best time to be young and free, I always knew I would get told of when I got home "What time do you call this" and even got locked out, but to be honest I didn't care. If I had to go back I would not change a thing. Happy days .
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Crazy isn't it? Then 30 - 40 odd years later, most of us would be saying the same to the next generation, having worried all night, like our parents had, until they made it back home. ;)
 
COMPRESSORMAN said:
Ahh the Chalet in Rednal, fond memories, great dances 1970's, MC said of me over the mike, and Lionel Blair in the corner keep it up...loved dancing.
Yes I went to all the others also, now 77.
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I take it you took the Lionel Blair remark as a compliment glad you loved dancing. Watched an 1977 Top of The Pops which i recorded off the TV songs some which escaped my memories but a youthful Tony Blackburn and Legs and Co. As you say fond memories
 
Country Road said:
Of all the nightclubs we went to, have to say the Locarno was a favourite, great atmosphere, best time to be young and free, I always knew I would get told of when I got home "What time do you call this" and even got locked out, but to be honest I didn't care. If I had to go back I would not change a thing. Happy days .
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With you there 100% Happy days great memories.
Country Road said:
Of all the nightclubs we went to, have to say the Locarno was a favourite, great atmosphere, best time to be young and free, I always knew I would get told of when I got home "What time do you call this" and even got locked out, but to be honest I didn't care. If I had to go back I would not change a thing. Happy days .
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Time Traveller 66 said:
Spot on even picked my kids and their mates up when clubs have closed and you never settle until they are home safe. Some things never change and that's good.
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Yes, I've picked up my son and his friends from gigs too and I wasn't the only one waiting, we each gave each other a knowing smile, as we waited in the twilight hours for our kids to come out from Muse and My Chemical Romance concerts, for example. ;)
 
Time Traveller 66 said:
I take it you took the Lionel Blair remark as a compliment glad you loved dancing. Watched an 1977 Top of The Pops which i recorded off the TV songs some which escaped my memories but a youthful Tony Blackburn and Legs and Co. As you say fond memories
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How about the ODDSPOT in Holloway head I used in afternoons, yes I was rep so you can do these things...is it still there?
 
Richard Dye said:
Where was the Handsworth Odeon?
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If my memory serves me it was about half way down Rookery Road on the right. Was called the Rookery Cinema in the day but it became a dance hall and played some fantastic soul music. It was set back from the main road with steps up to the entrance. Today I believe there is a mosque there. We went in the mid 60's. it was a long time ago but happy memories.
 
COMPRESSORMAN said:
How about the ODDSPOT in Holloway head I used in afternoons, yes I was rep so you can do these things...is it still there?
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Wasn't it on Exeter Street (the first turn on the left, when going up Holloway Head from Holloway Circus)? Last time I was up that way around 10 years ago, the building was still there, but I couldn't see any sign of the place itself. I guess there isn't the demand now, as everywhere is open during the afternoon, for those that are thirsty. ;)
 
alan bartlett said:
If my memory serves me it was about half way down Rookery Road on the right. Was called the Rookery Cinema in the day but it became a dance hall and played some fantastic soul music. It was set back from the main road with steps up to the entrance. Today I believe there is a mosque there. We went in the mid 60's. it was a long time ago but happy memories.
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That became the Plaza, run by the Regan family along with the Ritz Kings Heath and the Plaza Old Hill!
Great club, I used to go in the mid 60s.
 
alan bartlett said:
If my memory serves me it was about half way down Rookery Road on the right. Was called the Rookery Cinema in the day but it became a dance hall and played some fantastic soul music. It was set back from the main road with steps up to the entrance. Today I believe there is a mosque there. We went in the mid 60's. it was a long time ago but happy memories.
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The nightclub on Rookery Road was The Plaza, loved it there, I saw Spencer Davis Group and The Kinks.
 
Lemonella said:
I still have my memership photo too! and I had the pleasure of going onto the roof, but that is a long story.........
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Did you mean the Rainbow Suite at the top of the Co-op? The roof area was at the side of the bar I think, wasn't a door to it open all the time?

Lemonella said:
I remember going to Barbarellas, not impressed with the place, it was half empty and had no atmosphere.
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I went to Barbarellas many times and had some great evenings and saw some great bands there, I don't remember it not having a good atmosphere.
 
A Sparks said:
Did you mean the Rainbow Suite at the top of the Co-op? The roof area was at the side of the bar I think, wasn't a door to it open all the time?


I went to Barbarellas many times and had some great evenings and saw some great bands there, I don't remember it not having a good atmosphere.
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Liked Barbarellas but like a lot of places it all depends on when you went.
 
mazbeth said:
Anyone got any memories and information about nighclubs in Brum, from any time last century?

Some names of ones that I remember and went to...

Samanthas (was over Silver Blades ice skating rink in Hurst? St)

Pollyannas (Newhall? St.)

The Locarno (definitely Hurst St. with the Bali Hai one at the back)
I remember this band..
John Kerton fronted the successful U.K. function band Red Sun who were the resident band at the Birmingham Locarno for eight years. https://www.brumbeat.net/andicaps.htm

Just found this out
The Tower Ballroom closes its doors at the end of 2005 after more than 50 years https://www.saga.co.uk/1057fm/pages/lisEvent.asp?id=5373
went there once...

Snobs (didn't like that one much)

There was one in the same road where Bingley Hall was (can't remember what it was called..brain's not working too good lately :D) saw Herbie Hancock there...and Deaf School, and AC/DC :o (not my choice...just a crowd I was with at the time)
Any more? ...or any memories? :)
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I used to work the cocktail bar @ MILLIONAIRES nightclub (now offices) for couple of years from around 1989 when I was 18 years old, and also the bar @ THE DOME nightclub..... not sure what that is now?? I'm sure it was an O2 Academy maybe? Not sure if it is even open anymore?
 
Villan1971DartmouthHigh said:
I used to work the cocktail bar @ MILLIONAIRES nightclub (now offices) for couple of years from around 1989 when I was 18 years old, and also the bar @ THE DOME nightclub..... not sure what that is now?? I'm sure it was an O2 Academy maybe? Not sure if it is even open anymore?
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Yeh it is still there as the academy. I go often for gigs. I went there for the first time in 1997/98 when it was the dome. A great night but wasn't ever my scene.
 
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