Plebs-halifax-now

[Guest topcatnumpty1]

Having lived in the West. Yorks area for a little while now, i,ve been wanting to visit Halifax and see the site of this wll known club(i won,t say Legendary---cos that conjures up pictures of knights and Dragons!!!).

For anyone who doesn,t know this club ran 1961 until 1968 and from about 1966 ran concurrent with The (better known Twisted Wheel in Manchester) and held All Niters and soul nites with top vinyl of the day been spun and some great live acts( some did the Wheel in the same night) such as Ben E. King,Jimmy Cliff,Roots and Jenny Jackson,Drifters,Rod Stewart --in his mod days,St.Louis Union(one of the best ever British tribute bands).

Anyway to now----after reading the book---The Plebs Story---i followed the destructions---down Upper George Yard-and after some geezer had moved his car,i saw the plaque set in the floor---"THIS WAS THE ENTRANCE TO THE PLEBIANS JAZZ CLUB(PLEBS)1961--1968".

But the best bit was according to the book ,you only went down about 4 steps to get in (it was a very low cellar club) They,ve just cleared a big yard circled on all 3 sides(apart from where we were stood) and we stepped down, on the other side is a dodgy pub called The Brass Cat--- but as it,s about the size as was(if you get my drift!!) as we walked back up the door to The Upper George Pub ---about 10 yds. away----where everyone used to meet(after parking scooters in the square --next door) and the record on the juke box from the pub was---------Bob and Earl----Harlem Shuffle---How weird is that??? anybody with any memories ---as i,ve never seen it mentioned on here---or who can tell me more??

Good pub crawl round Halifax anyway--got to go it,s Vera Duckworth.s funeral!!!

Regards

Tony C.

[Julianb]

Strangely enough we have just been discussing this club on KTF.

I first went at the ripe old age of 13 and saw most of the acts you mention.One you did miss was Victor Broxx and his blues band - he always played a tribute to Junior walker during his act and this generally brought the house down. It was a great sweaty night and it was there that I first heard Shirley Ellis' Soul Time. Still sends a shiver down my spine when I hear it now!

Sometimes managed to get a drink in the Upper George pub as well!!

Another great soul night was the Victory Lounge pub just of St George Square on a Sunday run by Graham Slater and Gary Chatburn

Happy days

Julian

[Zed1]

But the best bit was according to the book ,you only went down about 4 steps to get in (it was a very low cellar club) They,ve just cleared a big yard circled on all 3 sides(apart from where we were stood) and we stepped down, on the other side is a dodgy pub called The Brass Cat--- but as it,s about the size as was(if you get my drift!!) as we walked back up the door to The Upper George Pub ---about 10 yds. away----where everyone used to meet(after parking scooters in the square --next door) and the record on the juke box from the pub was---------Bob and Earl----Harlem Shuffle---How weird is that??? anybody with any memories -

Can't help with the club Tony, but........

In the late 80's the firm I was working for had some work in Wigan town Centre and I was due to meet a guy at this job, however as I had not been back to the town since the Casino Closed the only place I knew how to get to was Station road, so the guy arranged to meet me there, and then I would follow him to the job...

I arrived early about 7-45am so parked by the Bingo hall and waited, it was just getting light on a cold, clear, misty winter Morning, as I was looking over to where the Casino used to be and reminiscing a little.....'Ghost in My House' came on the radio........

Spooky!!...

Edited January 28, 2008 by Teapot

[Guest]

Having lived in the West. Yorks area for a little while now, i,ve been wanting to visit Halifax and see the site of this wll known club(i won,t say Legendary---cos that conjures up pictures of knights and Dragons!!!).

For anyone who doesn,t know this club ran 1961 until 1968 and from about 1966 ran concurrent with The (better known Twisted Wheel in Manchester) and held All Niters and soul nites with top vinyl of the day been spun and some great live acts( some did the Wheel in the same night) such as Ben E. King,Jimmy Cliff,Roots and Jenny Jackson,Drifters,Rod Stewart --in his mod days,St.Louis Union(one of the best ever British tribute bands).

Anyway to now----after reading the book---The Plebs Story---i followed the destructions---down Upper George Yard-and after some geezer had moved his car,i saw the plaque set in the floor---"THIS WAS THE ENTRANCE TO THE PLEBIANS JAZZ CLUB(PLEBS)1961--1968".

But the best bit was according to the book ,you only went down about 4 steps to get in (it was a very low cellar club) They,ve just cleared a big yard circled on all 3 sides(apart from where we were stood) and we stepped down, on the other side is a dodgy pub called The Brass Cat--- but as it,s about the size as was(if you get my drift!!) as we walked back up the door to The Upper George Pub ---about 10 yds. away----where everyone used to meet(after parking scooters in the square --next door) and the record on the juke box from the pub was---------Bob and Earl----Harlem Shuffle---How weird is that??? anybody with any memories ---as i,ve never seen it mentioned on here---or who can tell me more??

Good pub crawl round Halifax anyway--got to go it,s Vera Duckworth.s funeral!!!

Regards

Tony C.

Hi Tony,I know this is a late reply but never went when it was called Plebs but after that it was called The Stop Spot all the scooter lads used to go down there including myself it had cobblestone floors and a few archways from what i remember was kinda underground tis now anyway LOL.

The Vic Lounge well what can i say best jukebox in west yorkshire and a great nite on Sunday with G.Slater on the decks ah the memories you cant beat em lotta people used to come over from Bradford,Leeds,Keighley,Skipton....

Malc

[Guest Stevie T]

Hi Tony,I know this is a late reply but never went when it was called Plebs but after that it was called The Stop Spot all the scooter lads used to go down there including myself it had cobblestone floors and a few archways from what i remember was kinda underground tis now anyway LOL.

The Vic Lounge well what can i say best jukebox in west yorkshire and a great nite on Sunday with G.Slater on the decks ah the memories you cant beat em lotta people used to come over from Bradford,Leeds,Keighley,Skipton....

Malc

Another late reply, only just seen this, vaguely remember Plebs, but Halifax its self was a massive

northern soul Destination, ie: Tiffanys on a monday night,ran by Graham Slater and Paul Rowan.

As has been said Vic lounge was fantastic with a juke box crambed with nothing but NS, also the Geity

bar and across the road The Reflections night club (night club always above a Burton,s)...a massive following back in the day ....i personaly am still doing it ,....every god dam weekend...the only draw back being the 5 day inbetween

Steve Turner

[Julianb]

Another late reply, only just seen this, vaguely remember Plebs, but Halifax its self was a massive

northern soul Destination, ie: Tiffanys on a monday night,ran by Graham Slater and Paul Rowan.

As has been said Vic lounge was fantastic with a juke box crambed with nothing but NS, also the Geity

bar and across the road The Reflections night club (night club always above a Burton,s)...a massive following back in the day ....i personaly am still doing it ,....every god dam weekend...the only draw back being the 5 day inbetween

Steve Turner

Paul Rowan - sold him my EMIDISC machine

Julian

[Guest Stevie T]

Paul Rowan - sold him my EMIDISC machine

Julian

He was my Favourite Dj at the time, Graham was playing more modern stuff, have,nt seen paul

since those days, but see graham regular

[Guest sarahleen]

too young to remember the club but recall my uncle {from bradford} mentioning it . do remember the vic lounge though and its jukebox ,was allways scared to put record on ,i was only a kid . d.j at brass cat still plays a bt of northern and people dance even though there isnt a dance floor , it is a rough hole pub your right, but ok in its own way

[Guest Stevie T]

too young to remember the club but recall my uncle {from bradford} mentioning it . do remember the vic lounge though and its jukebox ,was allways scared to put record on ,i was only a kid . d.j at brass cat still plays a bt of northern and people dance even though there isnt a dance floor , it is a rough hole pub your right, but ok in its own way

all the pubs were rough ..and still are , The bull was a great gathering place ,run by Ronnie Priestley

used to play some good stuff in there . people dont believe when you tell them ,folk used to travel

far and wide to come to Halifax to these clubs Plebs, Tiffs , Victorias in sowerby .....good times and still are

[Guest]

He was my Favourite Dj at the time, Graham was playing more modern stuff, have,nt seen paul

since those days, but see graham regular

I am in regular contact with Paul , who lives in Reading these days , and frequents Bisley .........

He looks more or less the same as he did in the 70s ( still a skinny git ) an does not have that porn star 'tashe ........

Malc Burton

Edited August 21, 2008 by Malc Burton

[Guest sarahleen]

good old halifax . HEAR HEAR .

[Guest TONY ROUNCE]

Having lived in the West. Yorks area for a little while now, i,ve been wanting to visit Halifax and see the site of this wll known club(i won,t say Legendary---cos that conjures up pictures of knights and Dragons!!!).

For anyone who doesn,t know this club ran 1961 until 1968 and from about 1966 ran concurrent with The (better known Twisted Wheel in Manchester) and held All Niters and soul nites with top vinyl of the day been spun and some great live acts( some did the Wheel in the same night) such as Ben E. King,Jimmy Cliff,Roots and Jenny Jackson,Drifters,Rod Stewart --in his mod days,St.Louis Union(one of the best ever British tribute bands).

Anyway to now----after reading the book---The Plebs Story---i followed the destructions---down Upper George Yard-and after some geezer had moved his car,i saw the plaque set in the floor---"THIS WAS THE ENTRANCE TO THE PLEBIANS JAZZ CLUB(PLEBS)1961--1968".

But the best bit was according to the book ,you only went down about 4 steps to get in (it was a very low cellar club) They,ve just cleared a big yard circled on all 3 sides(apart from where we were stood) and we stepped down, on the other side is a dodgy pub called The Brass Cat--- but as it,s about the size as was(if you get my drift!!) as we walked back up the door to The Upper George Pub ---about 10 yds. away----where everyone used to meet(after parking scooters in the square --next door) and the record on the juke box from the pub was---------Bob and Earl----Harlem Shuffle---How weird is that??? anybody with any memories ---as i,ve never seen it mentioned on here---or who can tell me more??

Good pub crawl round Halifax anyway--got to go it,s Vera Duckworth.s funeral!!!

Regards

Tony C.

There are several pages on Plebs in the best music book that I've read this year, "Small Town Saturday Night" - which is part one of a two part history of pop music in Halifax in the 50s and 60s (Vol. 2 will be the 60s and 70s). There are also a couple of small pix of the Invitations appearing (as the Drifters) at Plebs, and best of all there's a fairly extensive and possibly complete list of all the live acts who played there.

The book's by local lad, and former Premiership referee, Trevor Simpson (there's a great picture of him booking Gazza on the first page!). It's a privately pressed book, and all of the profit that Trevor has made is going to charities. He doesn't have many left, I'm told (less than 100 of the 1000 he had made) so if you fancy it, go to his website www.smalltownsaturdaynight.co.uk and buy one quickly!

[Guest Stevie T]

I am in regular contact with Paul , who lives in Reading these days , and frequents Bisley .........

He looks more or less the same as he did in the 70s ( still a skinny git ) an does not have that porn star 'tashe ........

Malc Burton

hahahaha yeah ! the tache ...know a few peeps who go to Bisley...will have to make an effort and get down.....

[Guest Stevie T]

good old halifax . HEAR HEAR .

seconded,.......nothing happening there, but nice place to live

[Guest Stevie T]

There are several pages on Plebs in the best music book that I've read this year, "Small Town Saturday Night" - which is part one of a two part history of pop music in Halifax in the 50s and 60s (Vol. 2 will be the 60s and 70s). There are also a couple of small pix of the Invitations appearing (as the Drifters) at Plebs, and best of all there's a fairly extensive and possibly complete list of all the live acts who played there.

The book's by local lad, and former Premiership referee, Trevor Simpson (there's a great picture of him booking Gazza on the first page!). It's a privately pressed book, and all of the profit that Trevor has made is going to charities. He doesn't have many left, I'm told (less than 100 of the 1000 he had made) so if you fancy it, go to his website www.smalltownsaturdaynight.co.uk and buy one quickly!

there is also a large paper back book ,solely about the plebs ,from its Jazz days to mod and northern, have got a copy

[Guest malc1]

there is also a large paper back book ,solely about the plebs ,from its Jazz days to mod and northern, have got a copy

Hi Stevie, recall seeing u at Winsford,yeah the Bull was a gathering place for soulies as G.Wilby was playing the tunes over in that tiny corner...happy days indeed will never forget them..see u at Middleton..Malc

[Guest Stevie T]

Hi Stevie, recall seeing u at Winsford,yeah the Bull was a gathering place for soulies as G.Wilby was playing the tunes over in that tiny corner...happy days indeed will never forget them..see u at Middleton..Malc

hahaha yeah !....Gary playing the tunes,that was in my latter days......not seen him for years,now that guy could have been a contender ...see you at middleton