Yorkshire Soul Venues -- 60's / 70's

[Roburt]

We seem to be losing a lot of the facts surrounding the mod / soul scene venues back in the 60's / 70's.

It's OK if you want to know all about places like the Mojo, Twisted Wheel, Junction, Torch, Mecca, Casino but info on other soul haunts just isn't out there on the net.  

I was on the Yorkshire soul scene in the 60's, to a lesser extent in the 70's before getting back into things in the 80's.

These days, it's almost impossble to find out much about places likes the Gondola (Hull), Jungle (Brid), Excel Bowl Disco (Donny), Bee Gee (Leeds), Boulevard (Tadcaster), Paradise (Goole), Skyline (Hull), Locarno (Wakefield), Tin Chicken, Bin Lid, Broken Wheel (Retford), Attic (Donny), Unity Hall (Wakefield), Place, Hole In The Wall (Dewsbury), La Ambassador, Crystal Bowl (Casleford), various Intercon Clubs, New Marquee (Leeds), Rudies (Scarboro), etc. etc.

Also spent most of summer 66 in Grimsby / Cleethorpes & there was a soul club I went to 3/4 nights a week for around 5 weeks but I can't even recall the name at present. Another place was soulies hung out was down by the river in Stamford Bridge, I think that was in the 70's though. There were many other soul holes in towns  such as Barnsley, Bradford, York, Halifax, etc but my travels never took me to those back then. 

 

The Dungeon (Nottingham) has a thriving Facebook page & the folks involved organise reunion nites, this coming weekend there's a get together in Hull to celebrate the Gondola, but little else of that part of our history seems to be preserved.

[Roburt]

I left the Spinning Disc (Leeds) off my list & we even used to go there sometimes early on a Saturday (after an afternoon of clothes shopping in the city) ...  think that was where Jimmy Saville made his club DJing start early in the 60's.

A few venues Geno Washington played in summer 67 ...  

Edited August 22, 2018 by Roburt

[Kegsy]

Here's a few more from the Bradford area.

 

Elmer, Shipley (Mod Club)

String of Beads, Bradford.

Mojo, Bradford. saw the Vibrating Vibrations and Root n Jenny Jackson there.

Hole In The Wall, Bradford.

Black Cat, Bradford.

Market Tavern (upstairs), Bradford.

Annabella's, Bradford.

Heartbeat, Bradford.

Penny Farthing, Bradford.

Bradford Mecca, Monday nights, reggae/soul mix.

Harrison's Hoist, Earby.

Halifax Tiffanies.

Vic(toria) Lounge, (pub) Halifax

Plebs, Halifax

Textile Hall, Bradford, mostly reggae with a sprinkling of soul stuff.

Wellington (pub), Keighley.

R.A.O.B. club Keighley.

Lord Jims, Huddersfield.

 

 

Edited August 23, 2018 by Kegsy

[Colnago]

Earby , Bradford area ! ?

[Kegsy]

3 minutes ago, Colnago said:

Earby , Bradford area ! ?

 

Ok. stretching it a bit, a lot of the older lads from the Bradford area went though.

[Sunnysoul]

10 hours ago, Roburt said:

We seem to be losing a lot of the facts surrounding the mod / soul scene venues back in the 60's / 70's.

It's OK if you want to know all about places like the Mojo, Twisted Wheel, Junction, Torch, Mecca, Casino but info on other soul haunts just isn't out there on the net.  

I was on the Yorkshire soul scene in the 60's, to a lesser extent in the 70's before getting back into things in the 80's.

These days, it's almost impossble to find out much about places likes the Gondola (Hull), Jungle (Brid), Excel Bowl Disco (Donny), Bee Gee (Leeds), Boulevard (Tadcaster), Paradise (Goole), Skyline (Hull), Locarno (Wakefield), Tin Chicken, Bin Lid, Broken Wheel (Retford), Attic (Donny), Unity Hall (Wakefield), Place, Hole In The Wall (Dewsbury), La Ambassador, Crystal Bowl (Casleford), various Intercon Clubs, New Marquee (Leeds), Rudies (Scarboro), etc. etc.

Also spent most of summer 66 in Grimsby / Cleethorpes & there was a soul club I went to 3/4 nights a week for around 5 weeks but I can't even recall the name at present. Another place was soulies hung out was down by the river in Stamford Bridge, I think that was in the 70's though. There were many other soul holes in towns  such as Barnsley, Bradford, York, Halifax, etc but my travels never took me to those back then. 

 

The Dungeon (Nottingham) has a thriving Facebook page & the folks involved organise reunion nites, this coming weekend there's a get together in Hull to celebrate the Gondola, but little else of that part of our history seems to be preserved.

 Slightly off topic but since John mentioned the Dungeon in Nottingham, there is an excellent website on the Dungeon Club which many here on Soul Source would be interested in viewing ...   https://dungeonmods.wordpress.com/

 

Edited August 23, 2018 by sunnysoul

[Smudger]

Remember seeing Root &Jenny Jackson must have been at The Attic in Doncaster, also there was a small club /bar at the side of the Odeon in Scarborough  if I remember correctly you went upstairs and it had a carribean theme can't remember name though.Also Salisbury in Scarborough played soul and a small bar in Cleethorpes that always had loads of scooters outside.

The Attic never served alcohol so there was a pass out hand stamp system in place a different coloured circle every time ,one of us had to pay to get in and then the rest would use coloured felt pens to replicate the stamp.The bouncers must have known and someone from the drug squad was always in attendance Smithy was his name I think.,great times .

Edited August 23, 2018 by smudger

[Roburt]

Attic related stuff (bet our kid doesn't have any such stuff even though he went more than me in the later days of the venue (as it morphed into a skinhead hang-out) .. 3rd piccy is my main claim to 'soul fame' ....

 

[Roburt]

Obviously, being from Donny, my post is specifically about that region (all parts of Yorks, Nth Notts, Nth Lincs, etc) ....

BUT ... exactly the same 'loss of info' is happening in most other areas; around Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, even London.

There does seem to be some info being compiled on the Lancs & Portsmouth areas but it's by no means comprehensive (for instance, is there much out there on 60's Liverpool soul venues ?).  

[The Happy Hooker]

Also worth mention is

Three Coins - Commercial St Leeds

Viking, Goole

Chairosquiro (sp) Batley Rd Wakefield

Somewhere Else Club, side of Wakefield Mecca,

Cellar Bar Huntriss Row Scarboro on same street as Sailsbury

 

 

[Roburt]

Yep, wasn't the Viking in Goole the venue that booked all the fake soul groups / soul singers back then (late 60's / early 70's)  ...

It would be interesting to get eyes on the old local newspaper from that era to see the gig ads for the place.

Edited August 23, 2018 by Roburt

[The Happy Hooker]

)Think you mean Tin Chicken in Castleford (home town)

Got away with it by pre fixing name with 'the Fantastic' .....'

or 'the Fabulous .......'

Many many stories could tell about Tin Chicken/Crystal Bowl

Howard Taylor dj at the Bowl has recollections of his time there which could equal the mafia in Sicily 

 

 

[Roburt]

No, I did mean the Viking in Goole.

Lots of the Tin Chicken / Crystal Bowl soul nites were run by Pete Stringfellow and they were staged in early 68 (not long after the Mojo was forced to close). Back then, the promoter was still getting away with it across the board.

By 69/70, most clubs / venues had sussed him out & stopped booking his acts. The Viking kept booking his groups & solo acts (if my memory ain't playing tricks on me).

Edited August 23, 2018 by Roburt

[Petedillon]

Saw the REAL Ben E King & the REAL Exciters at an all-dayer at the Viking in 70’s. 

Edited August 23, 2018 by PeteDillon

[Petedillon]

Top pic is of what was previously the Three Coins..John Lee Hooker etc played there..

 

 

[Span]

11 hours ago, Roburt said:

Attic related stuff (bet our kid doesn't have any such stuff even though he went more than me in the later days of the venue (as it morphed into a skinhead hang-out) .. 3rd piccy is my main claim to 'soul fame' ....

 

I'm from Donny but only a bairn in the 60s but the attic changed names a few times in the 70s and was known as the club where the best music was played.

There were others that played more Mod & club stuff like the Top Rank and in the late seventies the " outlook " and " kings head " had soul nights .

My top donny northern club ( apart from Toll-bar youthie ) was the Bentley comrades club where I heard the latest tunes and cut my teeth on the dance floor.

Still can't remember who the DJ was but bought most of my records there ! 

Neal

 

[Petedillon]

Spinning Disc in Leeds also opened lunchtime during the week. 12-2 we used to go from school , blazers in Airline bags 1 shilling in not go back to school and spend afternoon in the El Toro coffee bar! 

[Tomangoes]

The attic in Donny is now flats....

 

It was also Baileys and via Terry Sampson had loads of soul nights / artists and even a failed nighter.

 

Rudies Scarborough came after Four Seasons.

A big thread on here previously about 10 years ago! 

 

Otis redding played in Donny...as well as t'beatles..

 

A small special mention for Adeles in Den arby..

Jimmy Ruffin and others came to the village.

 

Ed

 

 

[The Happy Hooker]

Hi Pete

Pic of Three Coins is not one in Leeds Commercial St. ...big R n B mod venue in the day..

door up stairs....THE place in the day .....s'ppose now it would come under the genre of Rare and U'played lol

[Andybellwood]

On 22/08/2018 at 23:13, Roburt said:

We seem to be losing a lot of the facts surrounding the mod / soul scene venues back in the 60's / 70's.

It's OK if you want to know all about places like the Mojo, Twisted Wheel, Junction, Torch, Mecca, Casino but info on other soul haunts just isn't out there on the net.  

I was on the Yorkshire soul scene in the 60's, to a lesser extent in the 70's before getting back into things in the 80's.

These days, it's almost impossble to find out much about places likes the Gondola (Hull), Jungle (Brid), Excel Bowl Disco (Donny), Bee Gee (Leeds), Boulevard (Tadcaster), Paradise (Goole), Skyline (Hull), Locarno (Wakefield), Tin Chicken, Bin Lid, Broken Wheel (Retford), Attic (Donny), Unity Hall (Wakefield), Place, Hole In The Wall (Dewsbury), La Ambassador, Crystal Bowl (Casleford), various Intercon Clubs, New Marquee (Leeds), Rudies (Scarboro), etc. etc.

Also spent most of summer 66 in Grimsby / Cleethorpes & there was a soul club I went to 3/4 nights a week for around 5 weeks but I can't even recall the name at present. Another place was soulies hung out was down by the river in Stamford Bridge, I think that was in the 70's though. There were many other soul holes in towns  such as Barnsley, Bradford, York, Halifax, etc but my travels never took me to those back then. 

 

The Dungeon (Nottingham) has a thriving Facebook page & the folks involved organise reunion nites, this coming weekend there's a get together in Hull to celebrate the Gondola, but little else of that part of our history seems to be preserved.

Was the Boulevard (Tadcaster), the same venue as The Whafedale Club ? Now a Chinese restaurant/takeaway ? 

[The Happy Hooker]

Think was the one on the A63 between Taddy n York....acts supplied to both this n Tin Chicken /Crystal Bowl by very shady character called Ken Dougherty.....

[Andybellwood]

21 minutes ago, the Happy Hooker said:

Think was the one on the A63 between Taddy n York....acts supplied to both this n Tin Chicken /Crystal Bowl by very shady character called Ken Dougherty.....

Dave , wouldn’t that be the , long demolished ,  Forge Inn at Bilborough Top on the A64  ? 

Edited August 24, 2018 by andybellwood

[The Happy Hooker]

At Billborough but it was low single building with dance floor  in cellar next to current motor sales room

[Roburt]

12 hours ago, tomangoes said:

The attic in Donny is now flats....

 

Otis redding played in Donny...as well as t'beatles..

 

Ed

 

 

Otis didn't play Donny I'm afraid ... there's a fake poster on-line that shows he did but as I just said it's a fake. I seem to remember that the bill had Little Richard as the top line act but while Little Richard did play Donny Gaumont, Otis R wasn't on the bill.

The Beatles played the Attic twice BUT way before it was the Attic ... back when it was just the Co-op Ballroom (lots of UK beat groups played the place including Cliff Bennett & the Rebel Rousers).

If I'd been in Boston in the week running up to September 17th, 1966, I think I'd have gone to the Starlight Room @ the Gliderdrome on the Thursday to play Tombola, rather than (having watched Otis & Chris F perform on RSG on the Friday night) going there for the Saturday night session .... NOT ... 

Edited August 24, 2018 by Roburt

[Petedillon]

6 hours ago, the Happy Hooker said:

Hi Pete

Pic of Three Coins is not one in Leeds Commercial St. ...big R n B mod venue in the day..

door up stairs....THE place in the day .....s'ppose now it would come under the genre of Rare and U'played lol

Is it not? The Three Coins closed before my day and I was under the mis information this was the location. There you go you're never too old to learn something new! I recall the pictured place as it was across the top of Upper Mill Hill. which was home to the Conq which was a massive mod coffee bar & cellar bar later (68ish) morphing into the infamous Lulu's coffee & cellar bar, I have a scan of a flyer and membership card from Lulu's but cant upload for some reason...The BeeGee was off Boar Lane, my mate Colin Vernon saw Steampacket there! Martha & Vandellas also played there.  The New Marquee was opened by the dj's Pete Brent & Mick Sheard when the Spinning Disc closed was near the town hall in what was previously Mark Altmans Dance Hall. Upstairs above shops it was a large room with bar down one side and big stage down the other .  The New Marquee was short-lived but really good , I seem to recall I saw Wynder K Frog there..

[Roburt]

Leeds -- New Marquee ....

[The Happy Hooker]

Three Coins was the IN PLACE in Leeds ....ex guy who remembers coins Derek Barnet goes regularly to Central/Wardrobe... went to Bee Gee also West Indian club? in Chapletown... also Morley Town Hall big mod/soul venue

[The Happy Hooker]

49 minutes ago, PeteDillon said:

Is it not? The Three Coins closed before my day and I was under the mis information this was the location. There you go you're never too old to learn something new! I recall the pictured place as it was across the top of Upper Mill Hill. which was home to the Conq which was a massive mod coffee bar & cellar bar later (68ish) morphing into the infamous Lulu's coffee & cellar bar, I have a scan of a flyer and membership card from Lulu's but cant upload for some reason...The BeeGee was off Boar Lane, my mate Colin Vernon saw Steampacket there! Martha & Vandellas also played there.  The New Marquee was opened by the dj's Pete Brent & Mick Sheard when the Spinning Disc closed was near the town hall in what was previously Mark Altmans Dance Hall. Upstairs above shops it was a large room with bar down one side and big stage down the other .  The New Marquee was short-lived but really good , I seem to recall I saw Wynder K Frog there..

Went to club in Wakey HEPPYs ostensibly to see WKF (Mick Weaver) announced on stage now . 5 Black dudes came on started Drifters songs......complained to management..got chucked out told to F**k off...Wakefield in mid Feb @1:30 in morning ain't very hospitable

[The Happy Hooker]

Sorry Pete dimentia affecting me Coins was on Albion Place top of Comm. Street where Bond St Centre is.

[The Happy Hooker]

No doubt this will revive many memories (?????)

[The Happy Hooker]

 

The Kiosk Castleford....................................Wigan Casino/Torch/Wheel  it was NOT........been down t'steps willingly and unwillingly many times

[Roburt]

Staying geograpically now but as Little Richard has been mentioned earlier ....

Not being able to fully accept his homosexuality, Richard was always returning to the church, giving up singing the devil's music & going over to gospel. But then he'd lapse and return to the R&R / R&B world and cut some more secular music. Even with all his retirements, he still managed to do pop tours of the UK in 62, 63, 64 & 66. He did some Yorks shows on these tours but his fave northern venue seemed t be the Imperial in Nelson (Lancs; the wet side of the hills).

His 62 & 63 shows were just about all in theatres but he played the Imp Ballroom in 64 & 66.

I bet he belted out a few of his R&B faves in the venue on his live shows there ... BUT BACK THEN ... the place seemed to book lots of UK R&B beat groups, UK mod groups & US soul acts ... pity I never made it over there on one of those nights (but only being 16 in 1966, it was all I could do to make it along to Yorks venues back then).   

Edited August 24, 2018 by Roburt

[Roburt]

A membership card for Tiffany's in Wakefield posted earlier ...

In 67, the place to go in Wakee was the Locarno. I worked in Wakke at the time & so got changed at work at the end of the day (into mohair suit) & went to the Locarno on Friday 19th May, 67.

Star live attraction that night was supposed to be Prince Buster , but the burga never turned up. Had to hitch home to Donny at the end of what turned out to be a crap night.

 

[The Happy Hooker]

Tried to avoid the Wake Mecca as the Somewhere Else clubwas the IN place..

[Mr Fred]

Here's a few names and places that spring to mind and am sure there'll be a few members on here  can recall.

Barnsley: Tracky Club run by Derek Greenhoff and Bub . The Londoner again if my memory serves me correct Derek and Bub were the Dj's.The Ace Ballroom in Royston great venue.

Normanton:- Normy Baths all nighters was run in the 60's to I think early 70's Ran by Dave Box and Howard Taylor

The Carlton Club Run on Friday nights by Chris Pell and Mouse (John Greenwood).

Dj's were Pelle mouse. Tony haigh. BUB Ray Hudson R.I.P.

The Frobisher Suite:' Run by Fred&Jacque Ward / Dave & Val Box ran from 1995 to 2007 a very popular venue and over the years had Dj's residents Dave & myself Fred Ward. plus dj's that come to mind Butch, Mick Smith. Martyn Ellis R.I.P. Mick H .Rod Shard and Tim Brown.I'm sure there were others which at this moment in time can't recall. Live acts included Snake Davis&the Suspicions on numerous times also backing Jacque Ross& Syl Johnson. 

Wakefield:- Intercon wkfld centre Dj's Paul Rowan, Mick Starkey, Phil J, and Arthur Fenn plus others.

Tiffanys: mid week Djs in main Hall Rick Vaughan and Frankie. Upstairs in the Bali Hai The man himself Mr Tony Banks. Unity Hall All nighters Ran by Mac Burton I can only recall a few Dj's as it was such a long time ago but I'm sure If Malc reads this he'll put me straight Dj's I can recall were Derek Greenhoff,  Bub, Rick Scott, Pat Brady plus as I say others.

Huddersfield:- Lord Jims Run by Julian Bentley and Resident Dj, opened just after the wheel in manchester closed and ran for about three years again Julian will put me straight if he reads this.The Starlight/ King of clubs Dj's Barry Downey the owner Ian DewHirst plus others. The Crescent Dj was John Simms wed nights. The royal Swan ran mid week and Sat again John Simms Dj'd. The Albion:- midweek venue various Dj's can't recall who  sorry grey sells playing up. The Hi Fi club great Club a place where the Huddersfield twisted wheel crowd used to go before tripping across the pennines . The Dj's were Eddie Sykes as Alan Kudarenko.

all the twisted wheel sounds were played here. The place had a fully sprung maple dance floor upstairs and a large bar downstairs with a juke box full of soul sounds.and alternate weeks a dj on as well as upstairs.

I hope this is of some interest 

All the best Fred Ward. 

 

 

Edited August 30, 2018 by Mr Fred

[Tomangoes]

10 hours ago, Roburt said:

Otis didn't play Donny I'm afraid ... there's a fake poster on-line that shows he did but as I just said it's a fake. I seem to remember that the bill had Little Richard as the top line act but while Little Richard did play Donny Gaumont, Otis R wasn't on the bill.

The Beatles played the Attic twice BUT way before it was the Attic ... back when it was just the Co-op Ballroom (lots of UK beat groups played the place including Cliff Bennett & the Rebel Rousers).

If I'd been in Boston in the week running up to September 17th, 1966, I think I'd have gone to the Starlight Room @ the Gliderdrome on the Thursday to play Tombola, rather than (having watched Otis & Chris F perform on RSG on the Friday night) going there for the Saturday night session .... NOT ... 

Ready Steady Go....first appearance in the UK of Otis?

 

Room under Regent Hotel first appearance of the boys from Liverpool?

 

Who knows.

 

However...the Disc youth club on the welfare site opposite Lord Conyers hotel and pub, did broadcast Jerry Williams and Jimmy Radcliffe to beehive jumper, yellow Fred Perry t shot, and stay Press keks, with seg impregnated brogues wearing youngsters in 1973....

 

And Jim Ruffin did play live in Den arby whilst I was revising my IMEMME final exams.....

 

Missed the show, but passed the exam..

 

Ed

[Roburt]

9 hours ago, Mr Fred said:

Here's a few names and places that spring to mind and am sure there'll be a few members on here  can recall.

Barnsley: Tracky Club run by Derek Greenhoff and Bub . The Londoner again if my memory serves me correct Derek and Bub were the Dj's.The Ace Ballroom in Royston great venue.

 

I hope this is of some interest 

All the best Fred Ward. 

 

 

You're sure right about the Tracky Club & Londoner but they were much later weren't they ... along with others from the Greyhound soul nites in Edlington (Donny), we used to help Derek & Bub DJ at the Londoner soul nites ... but that was in the mid to late 80's I seem to think. The Tracky was also on during the same period & later wasn't it.

When did both venues start hosting soul nights, as the 1st time I became aware of them was (as I just said), in the 80's.

 

[Mr Fred]

Hi Roburt,  Yes you're absolutely right, I think I got carried away with my enthusiasm,  I've just looked at an old flyer for a Christmas bash at the Tracky Club for 1990 and it was it's 4th xmas bash so I recon the soul nights must have started sound 84 / 85 but don't know for sure. Who knows we might have met there. Do you know any of the following people Rob Chappel R.I.P. (Tubby) his best mate Snoz R.I.P. Dave Liversedge R.I.P.  Chalky, Andy Oxley.Tony Fell.Chip. Bob Mellor and Denise Mellor and of course Eddie Ratch, these were/ are good friends of ours. Good times!

I don't know when the Londoner started but I think maybe before the Tracky Club, I don't remember much as me our Rob R.I.P. , Phil Haigh. R.I.P. and myself used to go when it was Monk Bretton Social club which became the Londoner, we used to arrive well blasted as we used to drink Carlsberg Special Brew and by the time we got there the dance floor used to be swinging from side to side LOL. 

All the best Fred. 

 

 

Edited August 30, 2018 by Mr Fred

[Petedillon]

On 24/08/2018 at 17:32, the Happy Hooker said:

Three Coins was the IN PLACE in Leeds ....ex guy who remembers coins Derek Barnet goes regularly to Central/Wardrobe... went to Bee Gee also West Indian club? in Chapletown... also Morley Town Hall big mod/soul venue

Derek cut all the top mods hair for a long time.. he is Leeds Ace face!  You walked in to Character Hairdressers and ask for the wrong style and you left quickly! Haha .

Derek goes back to the start of it all. Brazenose Street and the Cro-Magnon on Moortown Corner in Leeds who turned down a chance to book the Beatles as they weren’t cool enough!! Also knew Pauline Matthews(Kiki Dee) & Christine Quaite from there!!

Edited August 26, 2018 by PeteDillon

[The Happy Hooker]

Top guy ..mentioned to him about Daz his protege....said living in L.A...