Mr M's Wigan

[Simon T]

Can anyone give me a warts and all description of Mr M's room.

 

I can't say I have ever read anything too complementary about the place. What was it's attraction?

[Soulman]

It had a hole in it!

[Winsford Soul]

Dark, Seedy, full of dodgy people and that was just the DJ,s

 

Ste

[Simon T]

It had a hole in it!

 

Steve, does your reply need restructuring and the wort s**t adding?

[Pete S]

It was a much smaller room, lower ceiling, still had a balcony, small but longish dancefloor, crowds of people around the edges of it, there was often DS in the toilets, sound was too loud and I didn't spend a lot of time in there myself.

[Bazm]

All my mates used to dissappear into M's at the Saturday All-Nighters at 2am and miss some of the best records ever played at Wigan (IMHO)...they loved it.....definitely a case of to each their own...... 

Edited June 20, 2013 by BazM

[Soulman]

It became an overspill as far as I'm concerned and a venue within a venue.

[Peter99]

Don't know. I didn't get to Wigan more than a couple of times me being a young un like. I was that fecking paranoid i don't know if I ever went in there - might have stuck me head round the door!

 

Peter

[Guest giant]

Dark, Seedy, full of dodgy people and that was just the DJ,s

 

Ste

   

[Back Street Blue]

Rectangular room, couple of rows of tables and chairs either side, small stage next  to the entrance, bogs on the left at the other end of the room,which were cleaner (and safer) than the main one downstairs.

 

"Mint" amphetamine fueled atmosphere, not as many tourists as downstairs and where me and my buddies spent most of our time there.....f*ckin' loved it. 

[Barry]

M's entrance was situated up on the balcony to the left of where you see the stage in the main room - the room actually would have run above and behind the stage area in the Main Room.

 

Walk up the (gents bog) staircase and turn back on yourself the double doors into M's 'foyer', a carpetted area about 30 foot by 15 (which would have been above the Gents bog) were on the left.

 

The foyer walls were covered in faux wood veneer panels - big one, small one, medium one kinda thing - people usually sat about on the floor chatting.

 

On the right hand foyer wall were two sets of doors (one either side of the small stage that housed the dj area on the othe side of the wall) that led to M's dancefloor - and facing you on the back wall to the left was the small staircase to the balcony that ran up and right.

 

On M's ground/dancefloor we used to try and get one of the booths through the left hand door (dj's to your right) and generally facing where Wayne Hackett from Leigh would dance - you could get about four or five in a booth seat.

 

If you managed to get through the generally locked doors at the back of M's it brought you out at ground level, which was a bit of a headf*ck - we nicked in that way on occassion and hid in the bogs til we heard the music come on.

 

The balcony was quite a tight area at the sides (people would crash there making it more difficult to get by), prob five foot from balcony to the wall but there was a fairly decent spacious area at the back which would house carpet dancers.

 

It was a real sweat-box when at it's height.

Edited June 21, 2013 by Barry

[Back Street Blue]

Heightened perception's one thing........but remembering things in the same detail after such a long time is scary man 

[Tezza]

Bit of a shit hole but oozed atmosphere. Missing some of the best records played at The Casino but more often missing a lot of the worst records played at The Casino and despite what the Casinophiles might say, there were a lot. It was a Marmite Room.

[Guest MrC]

It was crammed, smelly, and shit!

[Guest MrC]

IMO

 

[Harry Crosby]

 

 

 

 Great atmosphere in the place, although a bit dodgy at times going through the tunnel between the main hall and Mr m`s. A couple of old mates in the pic noticeably Jinxy from Scarborough with no top on.

[Mark S]

Ms great room allways felt edgy and slightly dangerous to me as a youth as did the Beachcomber thats probbably the attraction for me . Also with oldies being played I allways got the impresion that I was mixing it with the bigger boys who had been around , never danced in there unless carpet dancing  upstairs counted

 

I used to enjoy the wait to get in met some charractors

[Guest martyn]

M's entrance was situated up on the balcony to the left of where you see the stage in the main room - the room actually would have run above and behind the stage area in the Main Room.

 

Walk up the (gents bog) staircase and turn back on yourself the double doors into M's 'foyer', a carpetted area about 30 foot by 15 (which would have been above the Gents bog) were on the left.

 

The foyer walls were covered in faux wood veneer panels - big one, small one, medium one kinda thing - people usually sat about on the floor chatting.

 

On the right hand foyer wall were two sets of doors (one either side of the small stage that housed the dj area on the othe side of the wall) that led to M's dancefloor - and facing you on the back wall to the left was the small staircase to the balcony that ran up and right.

 

On M's ground/dancefloor we used to try and get one of the booths through the left hand door (dj's to your right) and generally facing where Wayne Hackett from Leigh would dance - you could get about four or five in a booth seat.

 

If you managed to get through the generally locked doors at the back of M's it brought you out at ground level, which was a bit of a headf*ck - we nicked in that way on occassion and hid in the bogs til we heard the music come on.

 

The balcony was quite a tight area at the sides (people would crash there making it more difficult to get by), prob five foot from balcony to the wall but there was a fairly decent spacious area at the back which would house carpet dancers.

 

It was a real sweat-box when at it's height.

 

I would have sworn that the foyer was right at the end of the balcony on the left when you walk from the stairs.....Or are we saying the same thing ?

[Barry]

I would have sworn that the foyer was right at the end of the balcony on the left when you walk from the stairs.....Or are we saying the same thing ?

 

Get to the top of the stairs - turn and face the back of the staircase looking at the back wall with the stage down and right - the doors were on the left.

[Guest martyn]

Get to the top of the stairs - turn and face the back of the staircase looking at the back wall with the stage down and right - the doors were on the left.

 

We were saying the same thing mate LOL.....Its my age you know !

[Barry]

Downstairs Main Room Plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balcony Plan:

 

 

 

My shit editing skills have cut off the Soft Drinks Bar - The Coffee, Tea an Pie Bar and the Leathers & Sheepskins Cloakroom at the back of the balcony.

 

I've missed the 'shop' out near M's too.

Edited June 21, 2013 by Barry

[Mark S]

Tech drawing was,nt wasted on you was It Barry   Allways thought there was an area of balcony above the stage in Ms  with a bar .

 

Now can you please do a floorplan of Samathas please

Edited June 21, 2013 by Mark S

[Back Street Blue]

My shit editing skills have cut off the Soft Drinks Bar - The Coffee, Tea an Pie Bar and the Leathers & Sheepskins Cloakroom at the back of the balcony

 

.....and all the tables with barbs stuck underneath them in second hand wrigley's spearmint

[Barry]

Tech drawing was,nt wasted on you was It Barry   Allways thought there was an area of balcony above the stage in Ms  with a bar .

 

Now can you please do a floorplan of Samathas please

 

Apologies for sketch, at work - did me best given.

[Back Street Blue]

.......and the "mik bar".......I used to love a glass of ice-cold milk

[Mark S]

Apologies for sketch, at work - did me best given.

Dont want your excuses

 

Where,s the floorplan of Sams ? crack on lad    

[Bo Diddley]

Not too many beat ballads played in there!!!

 

Always crammed, not much room to dance or do "spins" without bashing into folks (who didn't mind anyway).

 

You would always be covered in sweat in there - some of it would even be your own!

 

On one occasion Mac Pitt (from Wolverhampton) had his glass eye fly out!!!

 

Happy days

Edited June 21, 2013 by bo diddley

[Pete S]

Rectangular room, couple of rows of tables and chairs either side, small stage next  to the entrance, bogs on the left at the other end of the room,which were cleaner (and safer) than the main one downstairs.

 

"Mint" amphetamine fueled atmosphere, not as many tourists as downstairs and where me and my buddies spent most of our time there.....f*ckin' loved it. 

 

Never understood why people travelled miles and miles to hear the same records they played at the youth club...

[Guest soulie75]

It had a hole in it!

yes half way down the dance floor ,cominin in right hand side  if you were smashed you could dance round it lol

[Dean]

Taking liberties here with people in pics:

 

I'm sure this is in the foyer between balcony and Ms, between the doors

 

And this is (as is obvious) by the decks in Ms

 

Now who can guess the characters (second pic obviously an early Rohypnol fiend!)

[Guest Dave Turner]

Never understood why people travelled miles and miles to hear the same records they played at the youth club...

 

and now go to oldies events to hear & dance to sounds they didn't want to hear then when they were "new"  

[Pete S]

Actually I just found something for you M's fans, a 60 minute tape labelled "Mr M's 1977" which is Brian Rae dj-ing and someone I'm not sure who it is, might be Steve Whittle??, but what makes this one unusual is that it's obviously recorded directly off the decks, professional style.  Quality 10 out of 10.  I can podcast this one if you like.  Means I have to listen to it though...

[Pete S]

and now go to oldies events to hear & dance to sounds they didn't want to hear then when they were "new"  

 

[Guest manusf3a]

Rectangular room, couple of rows of tables and chairs either side, small stage next  to the entrance, bogs on the left at the other end of the room,which were cleaner (and safer) than the main one downstairs.

 

"Mint" amphetamine fueled atmosphere, not as many tourists as downstairs and where me and my buddies spent most of our time there.....f*ckin' loved it. 

Spot on ,imo the atmosphere was much better in there ,more intense certainly amphetamine fuelled once experienced that's what Wigan meant for me,going to mr Ms.

[Pete S]

Spot on ,imo the atmosphere was much better in there ,

 

 

Really don't know how you can say that unless we've got a different opinion of what atmosphere is - I'm talking about the clapping etc in the big room, even hearing it now can have me in tears

[Guest manusf3a]

Tech drawing was,nt wasted on you was It Barry   Allways thought there was an area of balcony above the stage in Ms  with a bar .

 

Now can you please do a floorplan of Samathas please

New thread perhaps"Floor plans of nighters",personaly I thought the layout of samathas was the biz,much different from your usaul big hall type venues.Yeh I am with you Mark,come on Barry do a floorplan of samanthas.

[Guest manusf3a]

Taking liberties here with people in pics:

 

I'm sure this is in the foyer between balcony and Ms, between the doors

wigan 002.jpg

 

And this is (as is obvious) by the decks in Ms

wigan 008.jpg

 

Now who can guess the characters (second pic obviously an early Rohypnol fiend!)

Look at that lovely gone to seed neglected look to the décor,all part of the package.

[Steve L]

Never understood why people travelled miles and miles to hear the same records they played at the youth club...

Exactly instead of travelling to hear something you couldnt hear anywhere else

40 years on and people doing exactly the same thing

Sorry off topic

[Guest Dave Turner]

Actually I just found something for you M's fans, a 60 minute tape labelled "Mr M's 1977" which is Brian Rae dj-ing and someone I'm not sure who it is, might be Steve Whittle??, but what makes this one unusual is that it's obviously recorded directly off the decks, professional style.  Quality 10 out of 10.  I can podcast this one if you like.  Means I have to listen to it though...

 

Pete, there's an Ms tape here plus others from Casino & Mecca

 

For me it's great to hear Martyn Ellis again on some of these

 

https://www.mixcloud.com/garrykeen/

[Harrythedog]

I can remember the hole being just in front of the DJ area, maybe there were 2 holes-what a bomb shell. Best laugh i ever had in M,s was when i was there with Shaun Pawsey & Gaz Hepworth when a girl spinning spewed up and every bit ended up on Gaz,s new patchwork denims. What a place, what characters, loved every minute and would do it all again tomorrow.

[Pete S]

Pete, there's an Ms tape here plus others from Casino & Mecca

 

For me it's great to hear Martyn Ellis again on some of these

 

https://www.mixcloud.com/garrykeen/

 

Not for me but thanks anyway Dave, I put this one of mine on to be greeted by The Ojays Looky Looky which I've never liked..

[Guest Byrney]

Taking liberties here with people in pics:

 

I'm sure this is in the foyer between balcony and Ms, between the doors

wigan 002.jpg

 

And this is (as is obvious) by the decks in Ms

wigan 008.jpg

That's a mighty fine Tash... Mr Churm?

 

Now who can guess the characters (second pic obviously an early Rohypnol fiend!)

[Ian Parker]

i liked it in there.... went 4 times,  4 times i spent the second half of the night in Mr M's .  that way, i heard a mix of everything throughout the evening/morning

 

   each time i went, the main hall was busy,   a joy to behold.   but the more intimate M's did it for me.  

[Guest manusf3a]

Really don't know how you can say that unless we've got a different opinion of what atmosphere is - I'm talking about the clapping etc in the big room, even hearing it now can have me in tears

Earlier on that was indeed brilliant Pete but the last couple of years I went to wigan around 77,78 a lot of that disappeared in my opinion compared to earlier years which was as you say a truly brilliant atmosphere  but  for those later years for me Ms was where the atmosphere was,in a way I have always liked the smaller low roofed sweat dripping edgy typed places .It was definitely worth the wait for the room to open for me.as even though the big room was fairly busy still it didn't have that  thing from early doors although Ive heard in did return a couple of years down the lne atb manus

Edited June 21, 2013 by manusf3a

[Pete S]

Earlier on that was indeed brilliant Pete but the last couple of years I went to wigan around 77,78 a lot of that disappeared in my opinion compared to earlier years which was as you say a truly brilliant atmosphere  but  for those later years for me Ms was where the atmosphere was,in a way I have always liked the smaller low roofed sweat dripping edgy typed places .It was definitely worth the wait for the room to open fo rme.

 

I agree 78 was bad but up until late 77, was still the same for me

[Barry]

Can see the usual negative comments already getting thrown to an innocent thread. ;0)

[Soulman]

yes half way down the dance floor ,cominin in right hand side  if you were smashed you could dance round it lol

 

 

See.... I knew I wasn't dreaming

[Zed1]

Dependant on what time the train got us into Wigan we used to do the early sessions before the main room opened - don't remember much about the layout though as it was always so fookin dark in there!!.

[Guest manusf3a]

Non music related memory ,the two blokes one time standing in Ms passageway wearing Halloween witch masks smoking fags and having a verbal with each other,slightly surreal.

[tosspot]

I started going to Wigan  in Sept  73, in 78 me & my mates were fed up with the shit like tony blackburn etc. comin' out of the speakers, but we never went in to Mr Ms cos of the old dirge that was played, we were into new stuff not oldies, thats why Pure soul in Nuneaton is up & running...NO FLOGGED TO DEATH OLDIES

p.s. After Wigan it was new clubs, new sounds & fab times

Pps..at least in 73 i bought my copy of the Tomangoes, but the bloody seller would only drop 50p off the total so i shelled out a whoppin' £2 for the bugger (only on £5 a week after i'd coughed up board money to my mam)

 

ATB no Mr Ms Rob