Guest Brian J Posted April 8, 2007 Posted April 8, 2007 Don't know if this has been posted before. (From Wigan Observer) Shoppers at Wigan's newest arcade are to be treated to a taste of Wigan Casino. The Casino Cafe eating area will take pride of place in the GBP120m Grand Arcade shopping centre, close to the site where the famous soul club once stood. The arcade is due to open next year. (Update...It is currently open) Russ Winstanley, legendary Northern Soul DJ, said: "I think it's a great compliment. "We have never had anything to mark the fact the Casino was once there so I'm very happy." Interior designers from developers Modus have been liaising with Russ and former Casino regular and renowned local artist David Barrow about how best to remember the nightclub. Classic photographs, paintings by David and a memorabilia cabinet are all being planned for inclusion in the eating area which will feature the original Casino-style lettering on its frontage. Russ also hopes to have a soul-themed grand opening which could mean the strains of Dean Parrish, Dobie Gray and Frank Wilson will be ringing around the site once again. Russ said: "There has never been any sort of plaque to mark the spot, just a car park and temporary buildings. "Modus has been good enough to speak to me and David so they deserve credit for recognising the Casino's importance." One of the original ideas was to use an abstract concept but the interior designers finally opted for the style of Northern Soul which will be incorporated into a three-part eating area to be known as The Mezz. Although the Casino itself never had a cafe, it did have a snack bar which specialised in Lucozade and Wigan pies and pasties.
macca Posted April 8, 2007 Posted April 8, 2007 sounds well & truly gross, but then I'm just a old cynic.
Jumpinjoan Posted April 8, 2007 Posted April 8, 2007 sounds well & truly gross, but then I'm just a old cynic.
Mark Bicknell Posted April 8, 2007 Posted April 8, 2007 (edited) Please tell me they are not gonna have 'Soul Food' on the menu.....lol. Regards - Mark Bicknell. Edited April 8, 2007 by Mark Bicknell
Guest Bogue Posted April 8, 2007 Posted April 8, 2007 Please tell me they are not gonna have 'Soul Food' on the menu.....lol get over it Russ ffs. Regards - Mark Bicknell. Why did you have to end with that Mark ? the bloke was asked for his input which he has given, & what is wrong with the idea of having something like that in general anyhow ? Let's face it, the Casino is probably the best known thing about Wigan worldwide even if it no longer exists ! On an amusing line, if they went for a real authentic feel in the cafe with nicotine sweat dripping & piss from the toilets running down the isles i don't think they would sell many Wigan pie & chips
Guest soul city Posted April 8, 2007 Posted April 8, 2007 Why did you have to end with that Mark ? the bloke was asked for his input which he has given, & what is wrong with the idea of having something like that in general anyhow ? Let's face it, the Casino is probably the best known thing about Wigan worldwide even if it no longer exists ! On an amusing line, if they went for a real authentic feel in the cafe with nicotine sweat dripping & piss from the toilets running down the isles i don't think they would sell many Wigan pie & chips seen it this week nothing to shout about!
Mark Bicknell Posted April 8, 2007 Posted April 8, 2007 Why did you have to end with that Mark ? the bloke was asked for his input which he has given, & what is wrong with the idea of having something like that in general anyhow ? Let's face it, the Casino is probably the best known thing about Wigan worldwide even if it no longer exists ! On an amusing line, if they went for a real authentic feel in the cafe with nicotine sweat dripping & piss from the toilets running down the isles i don't think they would sell many Wigan pie & chips Very sorry it was meant tounge in cheek, comment retracted. Regards - Mark Bicknell.
Guest Posted April 8, 2007 Posted April 8, 2007 one of the items on the menu could be,"thyme will pass you pie"... ..soulie55..
Guest Bogue Posted April 8, 2007 Posted April 8, 2007 one of the items on the menu could be,"thyme will pass you pie"... ..soulie55.. Arghhh , How about a nice steaming bowl of Pea green & clear soup for starters ?
Guest Posted April 8, 2007 Posted April 8, 2007 Arghhh , How about a nice steaming bowl of Pea green & clear soup for starters ? nice one bogue but not as crappy as my offering..
Guest Posted April 8, 2007 Posted April 8, 2007 trying to think what could be offered as a sweet in the wigan cafe but me brains not in gear yet....
Guest nubes Posted April 8, 2007 Posted April 8, 2007 Tickles me...when the Casino was open...most Wiganers wanted shut down because to them....this was a place of sin and corruption for most young people...judging by what goes on with some teens today...I think we all were very calm in comparison..all we wanted to do was dance...end off.....Delxx
Guest Bogue Posted April 8, 2007 Posted April 8, 2007 nice one bogue but not as crappy as my offering.. Think you may have misread me there Soulie,with the Arghhh i was just reacting to the pun, i still thought it was funny & tried to come up with an equaly funny cringeworthy pun as we normaly do in threads like this. Wasn't trying to put your offering down
Guest Bogue Posted April 8, 2007 Posted April 8, 2007 trying to think what could be offered as a sweet in the wigan cafe but me brains not in gear yet.... Apples,Peaches, Pumkin Pie ?
Guest Bearsoul Posted April 8, 2007 Posted April 8, 2007 trying to think what could be offered as a sweet in the wigan cafe but me brains not in gear yet.... WHAT ABOUT 'CHALKIES CRUMBLE' OR 'STATION ROAD SUPRISE' ...SUPRISE BEING THERE ISN'T ANY BUT YOU CAN STARE AT YOUR PLATE AND FEEL ALL NOSTALGIC
Guest Posted April 8, 2007 Posted April 8, 2007 Good luck to them, it's obviously something they have deep feelings for so it's sad there are some that want to belittle it without even having visited it probably.
Guest Kevin J Posted April 8, 2007 Posted April 8, 2007 nothing says "homage to northern soul" like a hundred screaming children in a shopping center food court...
Guest Posted April 8, 2007 Posted April 8, 2007 (edited) Black (bombers) pudding and chips... Beat you to it with my post - and others joining in - regarding the menu for Dave Raistrick's Okeh Cafe in Skegness , following the weekender there last week .... Check the " soul cafe " posting in " look in your box " for April 1st ...... Malc Burton Edited April 8, 2007 by Malc Burton
Guest Posted April 8, 2007 Posted April 8, 2007 Think you may have misread me there Soulie,with the Arghhh i was just reacting to the pun, i still thought it was funny & tried to come up with an equaly funny cringeworthy pun as we normaly do in threads like this. Wasn't trying to put your offering down hello bogue i only thought that my offering was very cringeworthy,so no probs mate, but i like the last seven words in your reply,"wasnt trying to put your offering down" so you dont like or wouldnt put my,"thyme will pass you pie" offering down!!! bet you didnt realise how that sounds????...gotta laugh aint ya...
Guest biggray1 Posted April 8, 2007 Posted April 8, 2007 Wigan Cafino The Planners Dream Goes Wrong Mor Like Wigan Cashino...I tell ya...
Guest Bearsoul Posted April 8, 2007 Posted April 8, 2007 Good luck to them, it's obviously something they have deep feelings for so it's sad there are some that want to belittle it without even having visited it probably. IMPORTANT PART OF MY LIFE BUT THOUGHT THIS WAS A BIT OF LIGHT-HEARTED BANTER. THE EXHIBITIN AT SALFORD UNI A FEW YEARS BACK WAS GOOD I'LL GO AND LOOK AT THE CAFE AND LET YOU KNOW
Guest rachel Posted April 8, 2007 Posted April 8, 2007 Dear me, there's a lot of tetchiness about on here, have you all had too many 'e' numbers in your Easter Eggs It's certainly an unusual concept, theming a cafe on a nightclub, don't know of anywhere else that's been 'celebrated' like that!
Guest hammy Posted April 8, 2007 Posted April 8, 2007 Dear me, there's a lot of tetchiness about on here, have you all had too many 'e' numbers in your Easter Eggs It's certainly an unusual concept, theming a cafe on a nightclub, don't know of anywhere else that's been 'celebrated' like that! There's a cafe in Shepherds Bush round the corner full of TRAMPs - so the concept's been done it would seem ;-) Hammy
Billywhizz Posted April 8, 2007 Posted April 8, 2007 Apples,Peaches, Pumkin Pie ? On the menu will be double cooking,checkerboard squares, Shakers,one wonderful moment, Adams apple,dont take it out on this world, The bottle,Gil scott heron, Slow fizz,Sapphires, Walking the duck,triumphs, Sliced tomatoes,Just brothers, Sherrys,put your loving arms around me, Finshing at the end of the menu,got to pay your dues,The Drifters,i can remember putting a fire out in the cafe when the chip pan caught on fire. Billy
Simsy Posted April 8, 2007 Posted April 8, 2007 They should have got Tony Blackburn (neh Lenny Gamble) to open it ..
macca Posted April 8, 2007 Posted April 8, 2007 (edited) the 3 part eating area to be known as the mezz sounds cool. the word creates an exotic mediterranean, terraza type of appeal. I guess they'll be serving up lattes, capuccinos etc; crumpets, pukka pies & tea cakes will be far too low-brow for this sort of establishment. spin, spin, spin (the other kind)... M Edited April 8, 2007 by macca
Paul R Posted April 8, 2007 Posted April 8, 2007 This must be missing the point. The last thing on most peoples minds at the Casino was eating. And as for a drink, if you didn't help, yourself to a pint at the top bar in Mr Ms(the pumps were always on, and no one was at the bar. Then the only real drink you had was to take an empty coke bottle into the waterlogged toilets and fill it up at the tap. Not much money to be made there. Paul
Russ Vickers Posted April 8, 2007 Posted April 8, 2007 (edited) Don't know if this has been posted before. (From Wigan Observer) Shoppers at Wigan's newest arcade are to be treated to a taste of Wigan Casino. The Casino Cafe eating area will take pride of place in the GBP120m Grand Arcade shopping centre, close to the site where the famous soul club once stood. The arcade is due to open next year. (Update...It is currently open)Russ Winstanley, legendary Northern Soul DJ, said: "I think it's a great compliment. "We have never had anything to mark the fact the Casino was once there so I'm very happy." Interior designers from developers Modus have been liaising with Russ and former Casino regular and renowned local artist David Barrow about how best to remember the nightclub. Classic photographs, paintings by David and a memorabilia cabinet are all being planned for inclusion in the eating area which will feature the original Casino-style lettering on its frontage. Russ also hopes to have a soul-themed grand opening which could mean the strains of Dean Parrish, Dobie Gray and Frank Wilson will be ringing around the site once again. Russ said: "There has never been any sort of plaque to mark the spot, just a car park and temporary buildings. "Modus has been good enough to speak to me and David so they deserve credit for recognising the Casino's importance." One of the original ideas was to use an abstract concept but the interior designers finally opted for the style of Northern Soul which will be incorporated into a three-part eating area to be known as The Mezz. Although the Casino itself never had a cafe, it did have a snack bar which specialised in Lucozade and Wigan pies and pasties. The whole thing is bollocks...............it makes my blood boil, Wigan Council & the rest of the town busy bodies couldnt shut the place down quick enough, you only have to read the articles from the local papers at the time to know what they thought of the Casino & us. Some of you lot have lost the plot, Northern Soul Dinner Dances & themed Cafe's, how very nicey, nicey & that nice Mr Winstanley endorseing the place, well of course he will, any tentative thread to hang on to any kind of kudos from the Casino !!!!. A more fitting way of remembering The Heart of Soul in keeping with the Northern Soul ethos would be great, but a food court, you lot need to get out more. Russ Edited April 8, 2007 by Russ Vickers
Guest biggray1 Posted April 9, 2007 Posted April 9, 2007 (edited) Well Put Russ Wonder if Wigan Council etc have considered opening a Casino super store where they can sell Adidas Bags Beer Towels- Large sacks of Talc -Amphet-Baggy Trousers..Bowling Shirts..Vests...Tank Tops..Sweat Bands,,wrist and head...Bootleg Lps Cds and 45s those Emboided Badges everyone had stuck on their coats vests and bags..bootleg dvds and vhs tapes etc the list is endless. Oh and the store could open an hall of Fame for Bootleggers! now that would be good who would you recommend as first Bootlegger to be given first place Edited April 9, 2007 by biggray1
Guest SteveJohnston Posted April 9, 2007 Posted April 9, 2007 one of the items on the menu could be,"thyme will pass you pie"... ..soulie55.. The Cafe closing time is 5.30.........no make that 6.00...............no 7.00............ho F*^k it we may sell one more pie, lets go on till 9.00!.................... Steve J
Guest Posted April 9, 2007 Posted April 9, 2007 The whole thing is bollocks...............it makes my blood boil, Wigan Council & the rest of the town busy bodies couldnt shut the place down quick enough, you only have to read the articles from the local papers at the time to know what they thought of the Casino & us. Some of you lot have lost the plot, Northern Soul Dinner Dances & themed Cafe's, how very nicey, nicey & that nice Mr Winstanley endorseing the place, well of course he will, any tentative thread to hang on to any kind of kudos from the Casino !!!!. A more fitting way of remembering The Heart of Soul in keeping with the Northern Soul ethos would be great, but a food court, you lot need to get out more. Russ Russ, calm down It's just a themed cafe, of which there are plenty around the world with other theme's.
Guest nubes Posted April 9, 2007 Posted April 9, 2007 Russ, calm down It's just a themed cafe, of which there are plenty around the world with other theme's. Sorry karen...but i agree with everything Russ says on this....To most Wiganers....the Casino was a source of embarrasment for the town...the place was blamed for all the town's drug problems although only something like 10% Wigan kids went to the Casino....i still remember groups of us having to be escorted upto the casino from the train station by the local constablury..because the good young folk of the parish were out to attack us....now the fact that they want to 'celebrate' it makes me laugh...Delx
Billywhizz Posted April 9, 2007 Posted April 9, 2007 Russ, calm down It's just a themed cafe, of which there are plenty around the world with other theme's. hi karen,russ is partly right,the council as far as the casino was concerned,it was a life line for the building itself good income over the years as far as the rates and rent was concerned,if there was a problem they would've closed it down in weeks,the block of flats infront of the casino was a problem noise and to many people walking about in the early hours of the morning,council got over that problem there was some of the councilers did attend the venues a few times the biggest problem was the drugs situation few people od that when the ds got involved if i remember they only raided the place once but knusford were they used to hang out the rest is history. Billy
BrianB Posted April 9, 2007 Posted April 9, 2007 I bet every one of the negative respondees would be down in a flash if we could somehow step back in time to Wigan Casino in those years between 73 and 81! Aren't we very quick to mock? I am a Burnley fan, but I don't laugh at the pictures of the 1st Division winning team of 59, cos they had long shorts, didn't train or eat as "professionally" as the players do now. No, I actually look back with pride and think without that team and those players BFC may not exist now. The same with the Casino. They did what they had to do to keep the place buzzing. OK, they played some crap. Which venue from the Wheel to Quinvy's Kestel Suite hasn't? 30% of the Wheel's records were white up to around 69/70. Thats always been the way of the Northern scene. The kids took drugs and dressed differently. Show me a group of youngsters who have not done that? I love Soul Source and the debates, which really shouldn't be taken too seriously. However, I have always detected a certain snobbery towards the old days and the Casino in particular. But the funny part is, when someone asks about all time faves, they are mainly Torch/Mecca/Casino sounds that are posted. Someone then usually tries to redress the balance by throwing Jean Carter or the Mello Souls into the pot. Great, thats what opinions are about. I love oldies and newies, hate crossover, but I know the scene has to move on. But decrying and cocking a snook at history is not something that great civilisations or (Northern Soul) movements do. They look at history and learn from it. I went to the Motown Cafe in New York in 96. Absolutely fantastic. I bet no one in NYC looked down there nose at it! ATB, Brian
Guest Posted April 9, 2007 Posted April 9, 2007 But all this was over 20 years ago. Who cares what the truth is, this guy obviously likes to remember to good points rather than dig up and dwell on the negative points or perhaps he's just knocked off a new facet for themed cafes. On here, one minute the Casino was the best thing since sliced bread and then it's being ridiculed and put down. Most people in this thread would give up their seat for a pregnant woman yet not be happy and supportive to a fellow sould fan trying to make a living in this tax-sucking country! At least he's having a go at supporting himself and building a business.
pikeys dog Posted April 9, 2007 Posted April 9, 2007 Like most 'themed' places, this is aimed at attracting the crass.
Guest nubes Posted April 9, 2007 Posted April 9, 2007 I bet every one of the negative respondees would be down in a flash if we could somehow step back in time to Wigan Casino in those years between 73 and 81! Not me....what's past is past...i am very proud that i attended the Casino..but it has been nearly 26 years since it shut....and yes i do miss it....mainly for the friends who i have lost contact with and those who have sadly passed....Dehx
Reg Posted April 9, 2007 Posted April 9, 2007 It's just a cafe ffs, what are you all getting your knickers in a twist about?
macca Posted April 9, 2007 Posted April 9, 2007 I'm certainly not knocking the wigan legend, I attended myself several times & have mainly postive memories of the place. from a personal viewpoint, I intensely dislike 'themed' establishments. I've never been inside the rock/hollywood cafs of this world for the same reason. so whether we're talking brian jones's guitar or the late mike walker's bowtie in a 'cabinet display', I wouldn't really venture into the place. is that snobbery? possibly, possibly not. M
Guest Bearsy Posted April 9, 2007 Posted April 9, 2007 opening up a cafe called the casino cafe has to be a gamble in itself . well i for one would give it a visit if i ever feel the need to go to wigan for anything, tea and scones anyone ,
macca Posted April 9, 2007 Posted April 9, 2007 (edited) tea & scones? oh' dear, and I thought it'd be caffellatte & schiacciata. Edited April 9, 2007 by macca
Russ Vickers Posted April 9, 2007 Posted April 9, 2007 I bet every one of the negative respondees would be down in a flash if we could somehow step back in time to Wigan Casino in those years between 73 and 81! Aren't we very quick to mock? I am a Burnley fan, but I don't laugh at the pictures of the 1st Division winning team of 59, cos they had long shorts, didn't train or eat as "professionally" as the players do now. No, I actually look back with pride and think without that team and those players BFC may not exist now. The same with the Casino. They did what they had to do to keep the place buzzing. OK, they played some crap. Which venue from the Wheel to Quinvy's Kestel Suite hasn't? 30% of the Wheel's records were white up to around 69/70. Thats always been the way of the Northern scene. The kids took drugs and dressed differently. Show me a group of youngsters who have not done that? I love Soul Source and the debates, which really shouldn't be taken too seriously. However, I have always detected a certain snobbery towards the old days and the Casino in particular. But the funny part is, when someone asks about all time faves, they are mainly Torch/Mecca/Casino sounds that are posted. Someone then usually tries to redress the balance by throwing Jean Carter or the Mello Souls into the pot. Great, thats what opinions are about. I love oldies and newies, hate crossover, but I know the scene has to move on. But decrying and cocking a snook at history is not something that great civilisations or (Northern Soul) movements do. They look at history and learn from it. I went to the Motown Cafe in New York in 96. Absolutely fantastic. I bet no one in NYC looked down there nose at it! ATB, Brian Brian You've missed the point mate...........I loved the Casino, Im not knocking the venue, tho it had its good & bad points, its just the attitude of the people who once looked down on us & the venue locally who now seem to think its a good idea to prosper with a trendy food court, like I said in my initial response there could be a more fitting tribute to the place instead of a naff themed cafe, its a joke & a poor one at that. Russ
Guest Posted April 9, 2007 Posted April 9, 2007 Brian like I said in my initial response there could be a more fitting tribute to the place instead of a naff themed cafe, its a joke & a poor one at that. Russ A new theme chemist.........
Recommended Posts
Get involved with Soul Source
Add your comments now
Join Soul Source
A free & easy soul music affair!
Join Soul Source now!Log in to Soul Source
Jump right back in!
Log in now!