Dancing Around Handbags In The Good Old Days

Here’s a quick follow up to my Chester nightclubs post from last week. As I touched on in that article – you can read it HERE – we had some great clubs “when I was a lad”. And as the saying also goes – we did plenty of dancing around handbags.

As the last time I was dancing around handbags was many, many moons ago (Nelson had two eyes the last time I went clubbing!!), do the youngsters of today dance around handbags? Answers on a postcard please…..or a quick email.

So, let’s have a trip down Memory Lane and relive the pleasures of dancing around handbags. Happy days!!!

Dancing Around Handbags In The Good Old Days

In the last post I briefly mentioned some of the clubs I frequented. Since then someone has contacted me to ask, “what about The Plantation?”

And someone else also mentioned the Northgate Arena. Particularly on a Saturday night. The “Plant” was more of a Friday night option.

Who said, “Grab A Granny?”

The Northgate Arena though also reminds me of another pub now gone. The Northgate Arms pub of course. A quick couple in there, under the subway and into the Northgate Arena nightclub. Did it have a more “clubby” name does anyone know? Or was it just known as the Northgate Arena?

Thanks to David again for his memories of Images in the last nightclubs post. Whoa…..back up a bit. One word in the last sentence has me searching the old memory banks. And that word is…..memories!!! Although not specifically Chester but on the outskirts (Dunham Hill), there was also Memories pub. It was also a bit of a nightclub (ish) venue. Legs Up Lucy being the resident DJ. I wonder whatever happened to him?

Dancing Around Handbags – And The Winner Goes To…..

No winners really. We all had a great time. In no particular order I’m going to mention some of the clubs that were all the rave back in the mists of time (geddit……all the rave!!! -I’m wasted here aren’t I?).

Over this last weekend I was reminded of another omission. I correctly remembered and mentioned Tiffanys/Cinderella Rockerfellas. But what about the days before Tiffanys? What about Kings!!!

When I was a babby, Kings and Quaintways were the first two clubs I went to. Do you remember my mentioning Quaintways in my last post? Northgate Street, where Rosie’s is now. Also known as The Jazzy, or more officially, The Wall City Club.

Monday nights at Quaintways was amazing. What a way to start your nightclubbing social life. So many quality live bands on a Monday night.

One night in particular I remember the queue for Thin Lizzy. The queue went up Northgate Street in those days towards the Town Hall. The Thin Lizzy queue was up by the Town Hall on that particular Monday.

Thin Lizzy weren’t the only big act to appear there either. Some of the following names may well be lost on some of you youngsters out there. Lindisfarne, Mungo Jerry, Groundhogs, Leo Sayer, Budgie were ones I remember. I’m sure some of you will remember other artists.

And, another great feature of The Jazzy? A pint of Double Diamond for 15p!! Brilliant!!

Dancing Around Handbags In Kings On A Sunday Night

Kings was so very popular as well. Based in Boughton you invariably went to The Tavern In The Town pub first. Slip out the back of The Tavern and up the stairs and job’s a good ‘un.

I well remember a Sunday night at Kings. A temporary bar set up at the top of the stairs where you could get a free pint of Greenalls Bitter (in a chunky glass!!) or a free pint of cider before 9:30pm. So, The Tavern first then on to Kings. If I remember rightly Neil Hayes was the DJ in those days on a Sunday. Is that correct?

After Kings – Dancing Around Handbags in Tiffanys And Cinderellas

After the end of Kings we were treated to the delights of Tiffany’s, which in turn became Cinderella’s Rockerfellas. Incorporated in Cinders was a bottom floor called Bali Hai. Not sure if it was actually classed as a different club. I don’t think it was as you could freely move between floors.

The main feature of Bali Hai was the big artificial tree embedded in the middle of the dancefloor.

A regular website visitor Garry has a Tiffany’s related story for me so I look forward to that Garry when you get chance to send it to me. One thing I remember about Tiffany’s was the short-lived all-inclusive night on a Wednesday.

I can’t remember exactly how much it was normally to get into Tiff’s but Mecca (who owned Tiffany’s) introduced an all inclusive idea throughout the region. Maybe across the whole country, but certainly at least throughout the North-West.

It was £7.50 to get in. And as the ‘all-inclusive’ tag suggests all your drinks and your food (a mix of a hot and cold buffet) was included in the entrance fee. All you could eat or drink!!! Were they mad!!! Talk about “fill yer boots!!”

A pal of mine at the time was the manager and he later told me that the venture into the ‘all-inclusive’ idea was knocked on the head very early in Chester as they were losing money on these special nights.

The Times They Were A Changing

Tiffany’s became Cinderella Rockerfellas some time in the early 80’s. Not sure exactly when. What happened to The Tavern In The Town though? I seem to recall at some stage it changed to The Schooner, then The Sports Bar.

During the 80’s we saw the emergence of Quaintways replacement – Rendezvous. So, sadly Cinderellas went into decline. When it closed it really closed. It was knocked down to be replaced by apartments and offices next door to the dentists in Boughton.

So, no more dancing around handbags in that particular part of Boughton. Great days though when they were going. A few sherbets in the hugely popular Boathouse by the river then a short amble up to Tiffany’s and subsequently Cinders.

I mentioned Rendezvous above. This is probably a good time to say “Time Out!!”

Another post beckons. Rendezvous definitely deserves its own mention. A great nightclub. Probably my favourite. Anyway, more on that in the next post.

Many thanks to those that have reminded me of other clubs and pubs. I do need to update my pubs trips down Memory Lane as I have been informed of, and recalled myself, other pubs.

Still though, I’ve enjoyed writing this post. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading it. We did have some great nightclubs in Chester “when I was a lad” and some great pubs. As no doubt we still have today. But, as I’ve already suggested, my clubbing days are way……way…..way…..way…..behind me. No more dancing around handbags for me. No siree. A quiet pint of cask and a good chinwag and sort the world out. That will do for me.

Another memory inducing trip down Memory Lane that I’ve enjoyed writing. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading it. I look forward to Garry’s memories of Tiffany’s. That reminds me, I’ll have to get in touch with him.

Chester Lifestyle Memory Lane

For all my other posts about Memory Lane, why not have a good old reminisce and pop along to HERE.

Chester Lifestyle Blog Posts

There are many other blog posts for you to have a read of on my website in a variety of sections and topics. To see all my blog posts – have a look HERE.

And going off on a complete tangent and as this is Chester related website. Here’s the “help support a local small business” section. 

As This Is A Chester Related Website

As this is a Chester related website, you may be looking for the ideal Chester related gift for your loved ones. If so, then have a look at my Chester section of my new Etsy store. You can find out more about my Etsy store HERE.

Plenty of originally created downloadable digital artwork for you to have a look at HERE. And, as I say, a variety of Chester related products to choose from. Like this artwork image of Chester Bandstand in The Groves: