Casino Cafe Opened In Wigan

[Barry]

Ooh. A Wigan, St Helens and Baxenden (?) Pie War.

You can hear the sound of duelling banjos already

Banjo's are sold over the counter in Parr mate.

[SteveM]

the expression 'return to the fold' is contentious as it implies a manifest ovine nature in human behaviour. bleat, bleat, bleat...

it's similar to the expression 'el efecto ±u (gnu)' in spanish, conjuring up, in my mind, images of anxious, bearded, frothing at the mouth, cloven hooved beasts trying to cross the crocodile infested waters of the serenghetti national park.

one recklessly jumps into the water & the rest follow suit.

the survival instinct & the promise of sweet grazing pastures on the other side makes them throw all caution to the wind.

Can I have your dealers phone number ?

[Guest Bearsy]

Can I have your dealers phone number ?

great minds think alike Simon

that post was miles too good for this site

[Reg]

Oh no, no, no - that accolade is reserved wholly for Pimbletts of St Helens.

I must say that I haven't had the pleasure but I seem to recall some kind of food programme comparing the two and they came very close. As a big fan of pies (no jokes please!!!!) I will have to search them out

I am going to get lynched by him indoors for coming on here talking about food instead of record labels

[macca]

Shhh... we don't do drugs on here chaps.

[Guest]

The bottom line is it's a cafe in a shopping centre and really has nothing to do with the scene today, it's not a venue, a record, a DJ or a place to celebrate the music it's a cafe in Wigan, a bloody cafe

At last someone gets it

1. It's not a soul-themed cafe. It's a cafe in Wigan that happens to be called the Casino, with a pretty naff but amusing display alongside. I had a good laugh. As my missus is a Wiganer, I know how much the Casino meant to people, and not just for Northern Soul reasons.

2. It has not been set up as a cynical enterprise by a little businessman, the owners are a multi-million pound developers. When have you ever been to a shopping mall that did not have a cafe or eating hall?? This arcade is the size of a small Arndale, for god's sake.

3 Check out the site www.grand-arcade.co.uk or better still, go and look and then comment on it!

4. The official opening of the centre is in May, with Lemar!?!?!?!.

By then I hope there will at least be some mention of what Wigan Casino was, or what Northern Soul is, because at the moment it's a bit of a mystery to the casual punter.

5. I won't be at the opening and have not been associated with it. but I bet RussW will be! The place is full of his memorabilia.

6. With my partner Karen, I used to own a soul-themed bar and eaterie in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancs, until two years ago called The Grapevine. We were in it to make a living, have a laugh, and enjoy the music. We did all three without getting any flack. What's wrong with that?

We even had Bunny Sigler, Jon Anderson, Kev R, and half the Togetherness lot in there during the Fleetwood weekender. No-one ever accused us of exploiting Northern Soul.

7. I am thinking of not doing Lowton or Middleton this time in case the cynical, money-grabbing promoters make any money.

And I won't be buying any CDs and vinyl off any of the dealers either in case they make a profit!

8. Costa coffee ain't that good anyway...

Dave

[Barry]

I must say that I haven't had the pleasure but I seem to recall some kind of food programme comparing the two and they came very close. As a big fan of pies (no jokes please!!!!) I will have to search them out

I am going to get lynched by him indoors for coming on here talking about food instead of record labels

Having given plaudits to 'Pimmies', they are as tight as arseh*les - I contacted their Bakery's promotional department as a very similar pie thread on my own site had raged on for weeks prior to one of our events, with people from all over rattling on about the merits of their own local pie manufacturers.

I wanted to put all the gobbing to rest and hand out 100 Pimbletts meat and tatties on the door at the do, finally proving beyond all reasonable doubt that 'Pimbletts' were/are the finest in pies.

I contacted the local rags in Warrington and St Helens, both willing to do a piece on the great pie/clubbing debate.

What did Pimbletts offer me?

A 5p (that's 5 pennies) reduction on each pie if I bought a hundred.

I put a black music quiz on instead.

[Guest Bearsy]

At last someone gets it

1. It's not a soul-themed cafe. It's a cafe in Wigan that happens to be called the Casino, with a pretty naff but amusing display alongside. I had a good laugh. As my missus is a Wiganer, I know how much the Casino meant to people, and not just for Northern Soul reasons.

2. It has not been set up as a cynical enterprise by a little businessman, the owners are a multi-million pound developers. When have you ever been to a shopping mall that did not have a cafe or eating hall?? This arcade is the size of a small Arndale, for god's sake.

3 Check out the site www.grand-arcade.co.uk or better still, go and look and then comment on it!

4. The official opening of the centre is in May, with Lemar!?!?!?!.

By then I hope there will at least be some mention of what Wigan Casino was, or what Northern Soul is, because at the moment it's a bit of a mystery to the casual punter.

5. I won't be at the opening and have not been associated with it. but I bet RussW will be! The place is full of his memorabilia.

6. With my partner Karen, I used to own a soul-themed bar and eaterie in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancs, until two years ago called The Grapevine. We were in it to make a living, have a laugh, and enjoy the music. We did all three without getting any flack. What's wrong with that?

We even had Bunny Sigler, Jon Anderson, Kev R, and half the Togetherness lot in there during the Fleetwood weekender. No-one ever accused us of exploiting Northern Soul.

7. I am thinking of not doing Lowton or Middleton this time in case the cynical, money-grabbing promoters make any money.

And I won't be buying any CDs and vinyl off any of the dealers either in case they make a profit!

8. Costa coffee ain't that good anyway...

Dave

[Dean]

Tell me is it just a rumour or do they serve choc mints with the coffee called Before Eights, I think you get three?

Angry people - the kind of publicity money can't buy!

[Guest Una Scot-Oz]

It all depends Karen, if they're coming at it for the right reasons & they don't just wanna hear what they heard 25 years ago that's all fine & dandy but if they're just on a nostalgia trip i personally don't think that's very healthy.

Talking about a nostalgia trip Simon, I'm just wondering about your connection to Lady Penelope?

Anyway as for the cafe debate, I think it's better than just a piece of wasteground being there. We all have our memories of what it was and a cafe or a museum won't alter that for me. At least if I happened to be walking past there one day I would at least enjoy looking at the "casino" part of the sign. A bit too far for me these days though.

[Guest Simon]

Talking about a nostalgia trip Simon, I'm just wondering about your connection to Lady Penelope?

I dj at a girl group club & am quite a big 6ts girl group fan & that was the nearest avatar on site i could find to it.

I'm not against nostalgia at all, i just find this particular issue about this Wigan caff a bit tacky that's all.

Simon

[Guest martyn]

I can't believe anyone goes in there and eats the whole thing!!!!! da da dadumda dadum

You ate it Ralph

[Guest]

At least if I happened to be walking past there one day I would at least enjoy looking at the "casino" part of the sign. A bit too far for me these days though.

Excuses! You never were much of a traveller.

It was only five or six hours down to Wigan from Falkirk

I had to struggle there from Chorley........

And now you can't be bothered coming back from Australia...tch

Dave

[Guest lagerlout]

Do they sell lawnmowers then?

Anyways, I don't have to make the journey to Wigan, as KRL have just released Casino Cafe Classics 1-7.

My order has gone straight in for the lot! lovely jubbly

wigan cafino was way back even before this new themed cafe, cos i no a lad who,s been there and even danced in it...am i right jamie or not..i would add its not jamie but we no the kid who swears blind he,s been in the famous wigan cafino...

[Guest rachel]

Posts unapproved, one for unacceptable language and second because it quoted the first! Can members please keep to the site guidelines re acceptable content and language.

[Guest lagerlout]

does this new themed cafe have an upstairs to it called mrMs that opens later,and i bet its got laminate flooring not the original sprung dance flooring.i for one if in wigan will call in just to wade about in the foot high piss in the toilets

aaaahhhh memories...

do you mean ME rachel

[Guest Jamie]

wigan cafino was way back even before this new themed cafe, cos i no a lad who,s been there and even danced in it...am i right jamie or not..i would add its not jamie but we no the kid who swears blind he,s been in the famous wigan cafino...

Yes Pete, think conversation went something like this:

"I've been to Wigan Casino"

"No you haven't, you liar"

"Yeah I have. Well, I've been to the cafe round the corner......."

[Guest rachel]

do you mean ME rachel

No I mean the posts that I've unapproved, so they can't be seen... have fun wading

[Guest Bearsy]

I see the post and it basically said, get a ******* life you ****** ********* its only a cafe ******* ********

and it was edited rightly so imho

[Guest Simon]

I see the post and it basically said, get a ******* life you ****** ********* its only a cafe ******* ********

and it was edited rightly so imho

Nice, who posted up that charming little piece then?

Simon

[Guest Bearsy]

Nice, who posted up that charming little piece then?

Simon

cant remember who Simon but he only posted about 20 times before.

[Soulsmith]

I'm not against nostalgia at all,

Simon

Neither am I, but recently I've noticed that it isn't as good as it used to be.

[Guest Bogue]

I just can't believe i'm seeing this !

Haven't been on here all week, wife & kids at home this so i have been let out of the attic, teathered to a stake & put to work in the back garden. I slip the shackles as she's gone to the hairdressers, log on & see this thread still running with 4 pages of posts !

Just can't see why it can upset so many myself.

Edited April 13, 2007 by Bogue

[Tomangoes]

In terms of commercial success out of the Nothern Soul scene, Wigan Casino must have been 10 times more than any other venue past or present.

I would say that Wigan is as famous amongst 40 to 60 years olds for it Casino above anything else.

In fact to the general public of the 70s, if you asked them to add a name to compliment Northern Soul, I am sure it would be Wigan Casino.

A cafe with hints of that history seems logical. As I recall in the running battles outside the casino, as many youths hated it and what it stood for, as loved it, so it may turn some old Punks and Greabos off calling in for a cup of tea and shoot itself in the foot.

In any case, the exploitation of Nothern Soul music for financial gain started as soon as the scene stopped being an underground movement, and in some justification, I would not have been aware of it and hence not enjoyed 33 years of the greatest proactive music scene the world has ever known.

As a comparison for the cafe. The Motown cafe in Universal Studios, Orlando is spectacular having motown, gordy, and tamla vinyl 45s fitted into the stair treads etc. Lets see what memorabilia is designed into the layout. I hope the music is 100% casino for all the hours its open (good and bad).

Ed

[Guest martyn]

In terms of commercial success out of the Nothern Soul scene, Wigan Casino must have been 10 times more than any other venue past or present.

I would say that Wigan is as famous amongst 40 to 60 years olds for it Casino above anything else.

In fact to the general public of the 70s, if you asked them to add a name to compliment Northern Soul, I am sure it would be Wigan Casino.

A cafe with hints of that history seems logical. As I recall in the running battles outside the casino, as many youths hated it and what it stood for, as loved it, so it may turn some old Punks and Greabos off calling in for a cup of tea and shoot itself in the foot.

In any case, the exploitation of Nothern Soul music for financial gain started as soon as the scene stopped being an underground movement, and in some justification, I would not have been aware of it and hence not enjoyed 33 years of the greatest proactive music scene the world has ever known.

As a comparison for the cafe. The Motown cafe in Universal Studios, Orlando is spectacular having motown, gordy, and tamla vinyl 45s fitted into the stair treads etc. Lets see what memorabilia is designed into the layout. I hope the music is 100% casino for all the hours its open (good and bad).

Ed

Went to Orlando 18 months ago & the Motown cafe is no longer there .Its a real shame coz some of the stuff they had on display was worth the flight there alone-In fact the records embeded in the stairs you mention would have put most motown collections to shame !

So,if the Motown Cafe in Orlando has a limited life span (as do all 'theme' bars/cafes) then the Casino Cafe in Wigan will probably be something else in a couple of years time anyway.

[KevH]

you never know,,,soon there could be a caff in every town ,with us all arguing who runs the best cafe,cooks the best food (ARGA v MICROWAVE),served the first dish etc ,etc,etc.....

[pikeys dog]

Nice, who posted up that charming little piece then?

Simon

Russ Wankstainly.

[Guest Una Scot-Oz]

Excuses! You never were much of a traveller.

It was only five or six hours down to Wigan from Falkirk

I had to struggle there from Chorley........

And now you can't be bothered coming back from Australia...tch

Dave

Oddly enough I can remember driving past Chorley on the way one night to give a lift to a certain someone!

[BrianB]

Russ Wankstainly.

Uncalled for?

[Guest lagerlout]

Uncalled for?

lighten up brian...i no joe and that will have been said in a fun way as with the funside of this thread...even russ would have smiled at that..

[BrianB]

lighten up brian...i no joe and that will have been said in a fun way as with the funside of this thread...even russ would have smiled at that..

Yeah, your'e right.

I am taking things far too seriously at the moment.

I need to chill.

[Guest ShaneH]

pointless commercialism. just like those horrible planet hollywood places. i would never choose a place to eat based on the pictures on the wall. crazy stuff.

food should be about food. weird idea imo.

isn't there a motown restaurant in the states? another horrible concept.

who in their right mind would choose a place to eat based on the music played and pictures of smokey robinson on the wall? you deserve a crap meal for being so silly

shane

[Guest]

who in their right mind would choose a place to eat based on the music played and pictures of smokey robinson on the wall?

I would! If it were a choice between a silent eatery and one filled with soul I'd take the soul! You also deserve a crap meal for being so silly

[Winnie :-)]

But as Dave says Simon, the clientele will be mostly local, so why is it mass commercialisation ? I can't see it being advertised nationally. Isn't it just a local theme ?

As for crass and tacky, look at the majority of theme bars in the UK. Meadowhall in Sheffield had a "Grease" themed restaurant for a number of years. I can't remember any old Teddy Boys geting worked up about it.

As a matter of interest, how many people from outside the Wigan area would travel to go to it ? And why ?

PS Simon. Say "Rare Soul", and rather than take the p*ss, their eyes glaze over. They do where I live anyway. Saves on beer towel and baggy trouser jokes

============

This is the really relevant point IMO. It only becomes crass or tacky if people who used to go to the casino go up their with a pair of old solatios, beer towel etc and lay them at the door If I were in the area I'd visit the cafe, just out of curiosity, not to relive old memories, because that can't happen, because it's not meant to be that kind of establishment. It's just something Wigan was famous for, its not going to become a shrine. I think it's good that the casino is recognised for what it was, a massive youth culture in the 7Ts, but if they were billing it as commemerative and claiming everybody who visited the casino should go to pay homage, I'd think the owners mad

Winnie:-)

[Guest Brett F]

Jesus, it really beggars belief...............yeah if thats your bag, your welcome to it....

[Guest ShaneH]

I would! If it were a choice between a silent eatery and one filled with soul I'd take the soul! You also deserve a crap meal for being so silly

brilliant. the target audience is alive and well.

live the dream and don't forget to buy a t-shirt and balloon

shane

Edited April 15, 2007 by ShaneH

[Guest Baz]

Dont they sell veggie meals in the casino then shane

I agree though tacky beyond belife really! be the foods rubbish too.

There is a soul/scooter theamed place in Peterborough that sells pizza! WTF has soul got to do with Pizza

Now a Soul Food Cafe or 'shack' with good hearty creole and the like cooking with a few pics on the wall ect a new orleans type thing with Jazz ect that would be half decent, but a cafe dedicated to the casino???? better off opening a Casion Pharmicy

[Guest ShaneH]

Dont they sell veggie meals in the casino then shane

I agree though tacky beyond belife really! be the foods rubbish too.

There is a soul/scooter theamed place in Peterborough that sells pizza! WTF has soul got to do with Pizza

Now a Soul Food Cafe or 'shack' with good hearty creole and the like cooking with a few pics on the wall ect a new orleans type thing with Jazz ect that would be half decent, but a cafe dedicated to the casino???? better off opening a Casion Pharmicy

hey baz, after 7 years of a meat free diet i finally gave in last week. had a venison burger in borough market, london

yeah i like a bit of that creole stuff as long as that mad man ainsley harriot isn't dancing with a pepper grinder nearby

stranger things happen when you mix two totally different ideas together tho. look at those shoe cobbler shops - they are also brilliant at cutting keys! (always baffled me that )

shane

[Guest Baz]

hey baz, after 7 years of a meat free diet i finally gave in last week. had a venison burger in borough market, london

yeah i like a bit of that creole stuff as long as that mad man ainsley harriot isn't dancing with a pepper grinder nearby

stranger things happen when you mix two totally different ideas together tho. look at those shoe cobbler shops - they are also brilliant at cutting keys! (always baffled me that )

shane

Ainsly Harriot

A proper soul food cafe would be brilliant i reckon, good hearty african american food made by mama jo-jo, whats the soul mag that does a soul food recipie in it every issue?

[Guest Baz]

Good bit on Wiki about soul food, interesting read of how it evolved from the slave trade ect.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_food

[Supercorsa]

Ainsly Harriot

A proper soul food cafe would be brilliant i reckon, good hearty african american food made by mama jo-jo, whats the soul mag that does a soul food recipie in it every issue?

There's one in Brighton, was on Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares TV programme. Here's a link to some reviews of it. >>click here<<

[Guest]

This thread is only a storm in a T cup With a starter and a main course to follow

[Guest]

brilliant. the target audience is alive and well.

live the dream and don't forget to buy a t-shirt and balloon

shane

You forget, I don't have a dream to live... I never went to the casino

[Guest nubes]

There's one in Brighton, was on Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares TV programme. Here's a link to some reviews of it. >>click here<<

Bloody goood grub and lots of it...Rob and myself had the pleasure of having a meal there 3 summers back...i dont know what it is like now...but we throughly enjoyed the food..Delxx

[Guest]

The owner did so well they moved to bigger premises if I remember rightly - she was a lovely woman so was pleased that she got it right

[Guest SteveC]

This is getting quite ridiculous & some what boring zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..........there was no personal attack on you intended Karen (& BTW I made the journey as a 15 year old.........altho' I quite see your point).

If you guys wanna sit in the Casino Cafe with your tea & scones talking about old times, then fill your wellies, I really dont care.

I think you have completely missed the point for god knows how many times & it seems that no matter how many times I try to clarify, you guys are intent on your own agenda, Im losing the will to live with regards this thread so, hey if it means that much to you I'll leave you all to it.................BTW if anyone ever does a completely unbiased & honest, permanent exibition about the venue, I would love to visit.

BTW As a parting comment, I disagree with your if it wasnt for the 'oldies' the scene would have died years ago statement, in fact if it wasnt for the 'real' NS scene continuing to do what they always had, despite the handbaggers having disappeared in droves cos NS wasnt the 'in' thing any more, we probably wouldnt have a scene any more. Keep the Faith Karen & stop taking things so personally................its only a Cafe after all.....................byeeeeeeeeeeeeee enjoy yourselfs.

Simon, agree with your last post completly, some people just dont want to get it.

Russ

Come home Russ, I need someone to go for a Friday afternoon pint with who's on the same wavelength as me m8. Not a dig, not being a bully, not thwarting anyones do's, just finding it difficult to agree with certain posts without being deemed biased

I'm with Simon on this one btw!!

[Guest rachel]

On the soul and food theme has anyone else noticed that BBC2's Wednesday night cookery programmes have a huge soul/ Northern theme to their soundtracks? Especially Neneh & Andi.. and they're a pleasure to watch as well, real passion about food and cooking at home, having big dinner parties.. usually with lots of alcoholic substances on the go...

Sharon Scott - Could It Be You on as I type....

Edited April 18, 2007 by rachel

[ImberBoy]

Fookin brilliant, I wonder how long it will be before people start lying about being there. LOL

"Can't get over these memories" Wigan Casino should have at least a plaque, something small and unobtrusive but there to mark the spot where some thing very special happened to the spirit of British youth culture.

A caf? I don't think a Panini or a Latte will be a lasting tribute to The Casino!!

P.S Brian J can ya phone me please mobile 07877333236 home 0114 2838923

or e-mail afsc50@hotmail.com