Georgian Club

[Oisin]

Do any of the Handsworthians remember the Ridgeway Georgian Club on Soho Road? It was a big Georgian (what else?) house, somwhere on the opposite side of the road to the Roebuck, before the road inclines to Hockley Brook.

Fifteen shillings to get in (in the60s) which included a free ten bob bet on the roulette. When we went as a crowd, half would bet on red, the other on black. That way, 50% of us were guaranteed to get our money back.

I knew two of the girls who worked as (sort of) Bunny Girls. They would slip us free drinks when nobody was watching. I once saw Many Rice-Davis there. She was singing. I thought she was really very attractive. But I can only hope that she was better at her other occupation, of which I can honestly say I have no experience :cry: , as her singing was bloody awful. :?

 

[A.Willoughby]

The club was run by one Van Hoogsraton - no - not the notorious one of late but an older man who was pretty shrewd but not the type one would believe to be a club owner. There was Eddie the doorman. Upstairs was a strip club and the general 'theatre' was on the ground floor beyond the bar area. This was screened as one had to pay to progress further normally.
Many happy hours spent in that bar. I wonder what happened to Van and Eddie?

 

[Oisin]

Thanks A. Willoughby... nice to know I'm not on my own and it wasn't a figment of an extremely old imagination. 8)

 

[A.Willoughby]

Paul glad ot be of support.
Now the leading question - did you progress up the main Soho Road to the Revue Bar (Club) I know it was open in the early sixties and the shows were a cut above Van's place but still very amatuerish. Had some good friends there and often wonder what happened to Monique who would be a regular in there.
Took one of our bosses from London one night and I can always remember how his pipe twitched in his mouth when we set him up by getting one of the ladies to sit on his lap. He played it well and his deportment at the time held him in great stead with us in future years.
:twisted:

 

[A.Willoughby]

Ridgeway Georgian Club

Mary,
I suppose it is too much to expect that Van Hagen ran the place in the days of your brother. The doorman Eddie would have long time gone. When you next chat with Chris, perhaps you would raise the query for me please............

 

[A.Willoughby]

Ridgeway Georgian Club

Many thanks for the information. Since I left the area in the early seventies always wondered what had happened to them. Had some very good memories of Van and Eddie and a lot of water has flowed under the bridge since those days......

 

[George1468]

Monique died around 1986 in a flat in Hamstead Road, just before I retired. G.T.

 

[Peter1]

Great memories of Saturday night or was it Sunday! going to Nickers club (which was at the Ridgeway Georgian) Lots of guys and girls out to have fun to rock music. Used to go the gate pub then to Nickers - was it 5 shillings to get in? I recall my friends Steve and Jamie Dutton going there too. Chips after.