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Birmingham Nightclubs of the Past - Memories

  • Thread starter Thread starter mazbeth
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I've just seen an old thread on the forum which says that it was Laura Dixons over Chetwyns before the nightclub. :)
 
Definately Laura Dixsons dance studio,and after it was The Whisky that dreadfull place The Limelight went there once never again

Mossy
 
I am a new member and have been reading this thread. maybe I am a lot older than most of you, but I remember the Bermuda in Navigtion Street. I worked there for Eddie and Frank Fewtrell in 1960/61. I was off the night of a raids and turned up the next day to find a new door being fitted because the police had attacked the other with an axe. There was a gambling room upstairs.
I also recall another illegal club , the Key Club. It was behind and above a coffee bar near the Hippodrome. I used to go to the Moat House in 1962, I saw Gerry and the Pacemakers there. Regulars were Aston Villa and Birmingham footballers, Johnny Prescott and Eddie Fewtrell. Eddie often bought me a bowl of scampi - delicious. There were also a few musicians who had just finished work at the Locarno. The Locarno singer who died in a car accident was Mavis - can't recall her last name.
 
Dilly welcome you must have seen some amazing people working for the Fewtrell family. I hope we can read some more of your stories I remeber seeing the brothers when they opened Rebeccas.
 
No Wendy, no amazing people. I knew the Fewtrells before they were rich and famous. I remember 10 0'clock closing and there were just a few illegal nightclubs. When night clubs became legal, Eddie Fewtrell was off and running, as he was already in the business. Unfortunately Frank died quite young of cancer. Eddie's biography was released late last year. There should be some interesting reading about night clubs in that.
 
Hello Dilly, and welcome to the Forum. I used to go to the Bermuda Club around 1959 and also knew Eddie and his wife. I was never there when there was a raid, but often heard rumours of one about to happen! I probably saw you there as well :)

The Key Club you talk of was at the rear or above the Sombrero Coffee Bar on The Horsefair, not far from the Hippodrome. I was a regular at the Sombrero, but never went into the Key Club.

The Moat House was another favourite of mine and my friends, and yes the Aston Villa footballers went there a lot. I went out with Derek Dougan, and Johnny Prescott used to go out with my friend. It was great at that club. As the Moat House isn't often mentioned on the Forum I think that I am also a bit older than others but it's good to hear from someone who visited the same places that I did.

Judy
 
I worked on the doors for Mothers Club.AKA Carlton Johns Agency. It was over a large furniture shop on Erdington High St. They did have some top stars on, P.J Proby, Screaming Lord Such,Jimmy Cliff and the Vagabonds. It was also where groups or bands would audition. If they were any good they were booked for Mothers circuit. They used the big room in quite a few pubs all around Birmingham.I think there were about ten men working as managers for Mothers. They each managed one or more functions each week. Although I did the odd night at Mothers I worked regularly at the Station in Selly Oak on Thu.Fri.and Sat. and the Hollybush in quinton on Mondays. This was all through the 60s. I left Mothers and worked at the Tower for a few years, then I got married and packed the door work up. Does anyone remeber the Surfside Stop almost on the corner of Summer Lane. I worked there for a short while, but it was dangerous because addmitance was via an elevator and I would have to go down, fill the lift and take it up to the club level. Whilst I would stand on and fight anyone ,that was not for me.
 
Ah, fond memories of our nightclubbing days. These days, if I'm home after midnight, it is a very late night - at least I am not locked out! Yes Judy, we would have been at these clubs at the same time, I'm sure. We may have even met. Johnny Prescott and Derek Dougan (with their girlfriends) took me to a party with lots of Aston Villa footballers. We stopped for a drink at a pub on the way, and people were asking for their autographs.
The Moat House was up-market compared to the Bermuda and Key Clubs, but it was very friendly and relaxed. The music was usually jazz, and I often jived all night. There was another illegal nightclub in Hagley Road in a very old large house. There was gambling, but I don't think it was as popular as the others.
Dilly
 
Hi Dilly - Yes, I don't think I could take the pace these days either :D But those days in the early 60's were great, weren't they, and if a week went by without a party somewhere it was a dull week ! It seems as though you were a 'Townie' like me and my friends, as seem to have known the same people, and moved in the same crowd. We more than likely knew each other in those days, if only by sight, and were probably at the same parties!

Jazz clubs, night clubs, coffee bars - we tried them all, in town and out, but the favourites were still the Tudor Bar at the Locarno first on a Saturday night, and then on to the Moat House. Did you ever go to Studio 1 at the Golden Cross in Aston, where they had a Jazz Club one night and a Cha Cha Club on another? I don't remember the club on Hagley Road, but I left Birmingham in 1963. I still try and get back once a year if I can though.

Judy
 
THE BIG OLD HOUSE ON HAGLEY ROAD Was The Rainbow private members Only
Many Years Ago With Gambling As Well And Given Future Time
They Got A LICENCE , To Go Legal So The Police Could Keep An Eye On It
And Stop The Customers BAeing Rolled Around The Back Because If They Exceeded
THE Amount Of 100 POUNDS They Would Be Met By The Hengemen ,This Is Way Back
In The Very Early Fifties , This Was A Regular Practice Then Believe Me ,
 
Yes, I remember seeing the Rainbow on the corner of Portland/Hagley Road. My sister and I rented a flat in Portland Road in the early 60's and went past in regularly on the No.7 bus. I didn't remember it as the club you mentioned Dilly.
 
Another memory has just come back to me. I think this used to be the Rainbow House Hotel. I remember staying there just before I left Birmingham in about 1963.
 
I am sure that The Rainbow Casino was where the Strathallen car park is now. It used to have a fountain just inside a low wall on the fork of Hagley Road & Portland Road. Someone used to put washing up liquid in it and hagley Road would be under a carpet of foam. The casino moved to make room for the hotel.This was late fifties early sixties, and a big old house on the corner of Augustus Road and Norfolk Road was called The Ambasadors Club, This was also a casino. During this period I was a Private Hire driver for Golden Line. The office was on the corner of Holloway Head.
 
No, Stitcher, it's on the other side of Portland Road from the Strathallan. It was still there last time I went up Portland Rd (November 2007).
 
Lloyd, I meant it was where the hotel car park is in the 50s and 60s. When I drove up portland road to Hagley Road, the Rainbow was on the right. It was moved to its present position to make way for the hotel.
 
Oh, I don't remember what was there before it (but remember the Strathallan being built). The place is is now was definitely a railway hostel though, I remember the board at Hagley Road end of the property.
 
When the casino was where the hotel is now, the doorman was a big greek man. He was a gentleman but it was best not to upset him. He is an old man now and has a cafe near to where the old rag market was in the city
 
I don't think you're right Stitcher. I used to live in Norfolk Road very near the Ambassadors Club in 1958. At that time I am pretty sure that the Rainbow House Hotel was on the corner of Portland/Hagley Road, as I stayed there with my sister just before we left Birmingham in 1963. It later became the Rainbow Casino.
 
The Rainbow Casino was owend by the Morells not sure about the spelling in the 60s and the doorman at the time was a friend of mine Jimmy Kennedy and you would not mess with him thats for sure:)Mossy
 
I am not sure enough to argue about what it was, but whatever it was, it was where the hotel is now. I eat at the rainbow every now and again and next time I am there I will ask one of the Morrels who own it and find out for sure. If I amwrong I will apologise.
 
Hello Mossey, I dont remember the man you mentioned working the door but it was and still is owned by Harry Morrell.
 
Hi Stitcher - I have just looked up an old diary of mine dated 1964. Seems like I got my dates wrong, it was 1964 not 1963 that I stayed in the hotel. It was called Portland House Hotel at that date. I think it might have become the Rainbow House Hotel and then the Rainbow Casino. I stand to be corrected if I am wrong, after all it was some years ago :rolleyes: Judy
 
There was still a Portland House hotel until recently. I will be going to the Rainbow for a meal in the near future and I will find out for sure, But I am certain that when I was a mini cab driver in the late 50s early 60s the Rainbow was on my right as I stopped at the end of Portland Rd where it meets Hagley Rd. By the way, the restaurant at the Rainbow is quite nice.
 
The Rainbow As Never Ever Moved From The Corner Of Portland Rd
If Any Think It Had An Extention Added To It
Itwas There When I Was A Little Whipper Snapper, Many Moons Ago .
 
You've reminded me, the gambling club on Hagley Road was the Rainbow. Lots of you remember it even if the memories are different. It was on the right coming out of town near Portland Road. It was definitely 1962 or earlier when I was there. I think before nightclubs became legal. The night clubs used to fill after the pubs closed at 10pm. I only went a few times - I found it boring because most people were only interested in gambling. I did put sixpence in the slot machine once and won 2/6d - the price of a drink.
The Bermuda also had slot machines - perhaps only one. I think knowing we were breaking the laws (silly ones) made going there a bit more exciting than going to the later clubs.:explode:
 
Astonian, I have asked three retired Cab Drivers and an old bus driver who worked the Hagley Rd. They all seem to think the same as me about the original location of The Rainbow. I was sure, but you have made me doubt myself. Lets leave it for now and I will ask one of the Morrells as soon as I can.
 
Dilly, thanks for helping to restore my confidence in my memory, It was a long time ago and I am getting old now. I will find out for sure from one of the Morrells.
 
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