Nights out in Brighton on the Late 70s - Early 80s

[Rowdey]

i beg to differ on this one. before buzbys became buzby's it used to be called the metro. it was still the best nightclub i can ever remember going in. it became buzbys in early 1981 - over 20s, and i had the claim to fame that i was one of only 4 kids from my school who got in on the opening saturday, even though i was only 16! it became oceania after it was buzby's sometime in the 90s, i think.

Hmm... Ok. I thought Metro's was The Metropoles own night club under the hotel..

Busby's - a classic 'chicken in a basket' club and hot moves on the dance floor to Bobby Brown

 

[Freddie Goodwin.]

Hmm... Ok. I thought Metro's was The Metropoles own night club under the hotel..

Busby's - a classic 'chicken in a basket' club and hot moves on the dance floor to Bobby Brown

Was buzby's previously The Revolution? this was a dingy, dark disco, the entrance was on the seafront side of Kingswest and you went downstairs. Played lots of disco & funk. Plastic glasses, flashing lighs, smell of plastic. All very tacky but it was the venue for a Friday night.

 

[Dave the OAP]

i remember the Rev!

Anyone remember the Buccaneer next to the Hungry Years? What wa sthe name of the Brighton band that played there....was it the Pyrahnas?

 

[hbh1]

Hmm... Ok. I thought Metro's was The Metropoles own night club under the hotel..

Busby's - a classic 'chicken in a basket' club and hot moves on the dance floor to Bobby Brown

yeah, there was (maybe still is?) another metro that appeared under the metropole a good deal later - a bit of a dive, compared to the quality of hotel it represented!!

in regards to the buccaneer, i saw the police there (honestly!) in around 1978/9 when i was 13!

i saw someone mentioned cinderella's at stroods motel earlier. i only went there 3 times and each time the place ended up in a massive scrap - a melting pot for the likely lads from haywards heath/burgess hill, brighton, and crawley. a recipe for disaster on it own!

 

[Rowdey]

Was buzby's previously The Revolution? this was a dingy, dark disco, the entrance was on the seafront side of Kingswest and you went downstairs. Played lots of disco & funk. Plastic glasses, flashing lighs, smell of plastic. All very tacky but it was the venue for a Friday night.

No, wasn't Revolution and Toppers next to each other in East street (above old ABC Cinema i think..!)

Toppers was Simple Minds, U2, Beastie Boys....well in '87ish anyway..

 

[essex seagull]

i was always in the Buccaneer about 1974 was the Escape underneath ;i remember the Finnish students very well especially one in particular,Also frequented the Alhambra seem to remember a local band called the Ammonites,then spend the rest of the night in chicks or the marjon club as it was also known ,also loved the milk shake parlour in middle st.

 

[Rowdey]

then spend the rest of the night in chicks or the marjon club as it was also known ,also loved the milk shake parlour in middle st.

Mahjong (sp?) club in Middle Street ? The all day/night Snooker club with card sharks, and various reprobates lurking quietley in the corners!

Used to go to 'Rains' on the seafront - was one of the first 'late' opening bars which required you to buy a bowl of chips to keep drinking in.

 

[Freddie Goodwin.]

No, wasn't Revolution and Toppers next to each other in East street (above old ABC Cinema i think..!)

The revelution was DEF in the kingsweat complex along with jenkinsons, the Suite and 3 cinema's, that was the origional line up when it was opened in the 70's.

How long it stayed as the Rev i don't know and I don't doubt that there was probably a leter one in East Street, which had the Pickwick.

 

[hitony]

No, wasn't Revolution and Toppers next to each other in East street (above old ABC Cinema i think..!)

The revelution was DEF in the kingsweat complex along with jenkinsons, the Suite and 3 cinema's, that was the origional line up when it was opened in the 70's.

How long it stayed as the Rev i don't know and I don't doubt that there was probably a leter one in East Street, which had the Pickwick.

I used to go in the Revolution and you are 100% correct, again I am going back to the early / mid 70s.

Anyone remember a coloured guy who used to dance in the Revolution,on the podiums, ofton wore a white suit, his name was Mark Abraham, he was a big mate of mine in that era, ofton wondered whatever became of him.

 

[hbh1]

No, wasn't Revolution and Toppers next to each other in East street (above old ABC Cinema i think..!)

Toppers was Simple Minds, U2, Beastie Boys....well in '87ish anyway..

toppers was the name given to the club "upstairs" at fagans. the ground floor was the really smart cocktail bar where you took a woman to impress, and the basement bar was where you went to pull, if i can be so politically incorrect!

 

[BigGully]

metro was under the Metrepole, later to become Steamers the poor cousin to Midnight Blues in the late 80's !!

 

[The Spanish]

i remember the Rev!

Anyone remember the Buccaneer next to the Hungry Years? What wa sthe name of the Brighton band that played there....was it the Pyrahnas?

it was the pirahnas one of the fellas was our music teacher at longhill dining out on it seemingly forever.

 

[TIGERMART]

Clubbing in brighton

Hi,
I just stumbled on this thread and had a very happy hour reading all the reply's and remembering my own happy clubbing days. Starting in 1974 and finishing about 1990 I had 16 years of hardcore pubbing and clubbing. I was out on the razz most nights of the week. As I remember it:
Top Rank at the bottom of West Street housed, The Suite which became Oceania. That had the Syd Dean band playing half the night and a DJ called Phil Leppard in the 70,s/80's. Around the front of the building was Jenkinsons cabaret bar with resident band Bobby Samson (they were socks down his trousers). That went on to become Coasters with the dancing on the bar barmaids and the very gay DJ Rory and his tranny mate Biba. Next to that and down stairs was The Revolution. The Rev became Metro and then Busby,s. This was one of my favourites. DJ's Dougie Mac, Martin Jay, Andy King all kept in line by the managers Pat Shevlin and Big Pete in his white jacket. There was also cinemas, an ice rink and a roller rink in there.
Across the road was Sherrys, in my opinion the best club in town. DJ's Chino, Kenny Lynn, the go-go dancers, the live bands, the fights, the bouncers. WOW what a place. It had a lot of student nights on quite nights for EF language school. Lots of lovely scandinavian crumpet! We thought EF stood for EASY F***. Moving up West stree a couple of yards you came to the Queen Anne with Swifts night club and the box basement. Always rammed packed on a Friday before the clubs. A few more feet and you had Fawas's kebab and burger place and Harry Brigg's Pool Parlour. Both were full of Brightons villains and dodgy geysers and I loved going to em both. A few more feet and stumble in to the Bosun for a few drinks and a punch up then cross the road to the downstairs Bentley's club which later became marilyns.
Going west along the front would take you to Midnight Blues club under the Grand hotel and on to the Abinger pub, The Mardi Gras, The Bonsoir club.
North of West Street you had the drinking club in Queens Square, Sloopys up Dyke Road and the William Tell pub in Queens Road. Through the lanes/East street area you could find. The Pavilion Tavern (Pav Tav), Shades, The Sussex, The Druids Head, Deryck Carvers, the Clarence Wine Bar, Hennekys, The Cricketers, Bath Arms, Pump House, Golden Fleece, The Sea house in Middle Street and The Smugglers (with Night Fever Disco above) with the limping curly haired King Gerry on the decks . The Seven Stars in Ship Street was always packed. Move on back to the sea front and turn left, passed the curtain club (gay), the Alhambra/The Inn place and the Kings 1 before reaching The Pickwick. This pub at the end of East Street and next to the ABC cinema was owned by Michael and Freddie Forte and had 3 seperate venues. Downstairs was a dingy club, Fagins wine bar and cocktail lounge was on the ground floor, and up stairs was the best soul/funk club in Brighton TOPPERS with the amazing DJ Martin Jay. Around the corner you could grab a granny Junction club in the old steine and another great club was the Papillion underneath the Albion hotel. Cross the road to the Hungry Years and the Savanah/Escape/Revenge and Buccaneer.
Obviously these were at different periods of my party life and not all one one evening. However and werever you had been you had to end up at one of the greasy spoons. The Aqua in the Old Steine (Big Liz and her equally large daughters) for a plate of grease or the Market Diner at the Fruit and Veg market for a Gutbuster. Sorry for the long response I hope it jolts some memories.

 

[csider]

interesting 1st post..........

bit before my time as 37, but remember the latter places you mention.savannah etc.

this is a good thread and deserves more than 9 pages!!

 

[Paxton Dazo]

Tennents Extra on tap, is what I lived for!!

 

[The Maharajah of Sydney]

Ben Trueman , Double Diamond , Harp , Watneys Red .
Pretty awful draught beers .

 

[smudge]

Hi,
I just stumbled on this thread and had a very happy hour reading all the reply's and remembering my own happy clubbing days. Starting in 1974 and finishing about 1990 I had 16 years of hardcore pubbing and clubbing. I was out on the razz most nights of the week. As I remember it:
Top Rank at the bottom of West Street housed, The Suite which became Oceania. That had the Syd Dean band playing half the night and a DJ called Phil Leppard in the 70,s/80's. Around the front of the building was Jenkinsons cabaret bar with resident band Bobby Samson (they were socks down his trousers). That went on to become Coasters with the dancing on the bar barmaids and the very gay DJ Rory and his tranny mate Biba. Next to that and down stairs was The Revolution. The Rev became Metro and then Busby,s. This was one of my favourites. DJ's Dougie Mac, Martin Jay, Andy King all kept in line by the managers Pat Shevlin and Big Pete in his white jacket. There was also cinemas, an ice rink and a roller rink in there.
Across the road was Sherrys, in my opinion the best club in town. DJ's Chino, Kenny Lynn, the go-go dancers, the live bands, the fights, the bouncers. WOW what a place. It had a lot of student nights on quite nights for EF language school. Lots of lovely scandinavian crumpet! We thought EF stood for EASY F***. Moving up West stree a couple of yards you came to the Queen Anne with Swifts night club and the box basement. Always rammed packed on a Friday before the clubs. A few more feet and you had Fawas's kebab and burger place and Harry Brigg's Pool Parlour. Both were full of Brightons villains and dodgy geysers and I loved going to em both. A few more feet and stumble in to the Bosun for a few drinks and a punch up then cross the road to the downstairs Bentley's club which later became marilyns.
Going west along the front would take you to Midnight Blues club under the Grand hotel and on to the Abinger pub, The Mardi Gras, The Bonsoir club.
North of West Street you had the drinking club in Queens Square, Sloopys up Dyke Road and the William Tell pub in Queens Road. Through the lanes/East street area you could find. The Pavilion Tavern (Pav Tav), Shades, The Sussex, The Druids Head, Deryck Carvers, the Clarence Wine Bar, Hennekys, The Cricketers, Bath Arms, Pump House, Golden Fleece, The Sea house in Middle Street and The Smugglers (with Night Fever Disco above) with the limping curly haired King Gerry on the decks . The Seven Stars in Ship Street was always packed. Move on back to the sea front and turn left, passed the curtain club (gay), the Alhambra/The Inn place and the Kings 1 before reaching The Pickwick. This pub at the end of East Street and next to the ABC cinema was owned by Michael and Freddie Forte and had 3 seperate venues. Downstairs was a dingy club, Fagins wine bar and cocktail lounge was on the ground floor, and up stairs was the best soul/funk club in Brighton TOPPERS with the amazing DJ Martin Jay. Around the corner you could grab a granny Junction club in the old steine and another great club was the Papillion underneath the Albion hotel. Cross the road to the Hungry Years and the Savanah/Escape/Revenge and Buccaneer.
Obviously these were at different periods of my party life and not all one one evening. However and werever you had been you had to end up at one of the greasy spoons. The Aqua in the Old Steine (Big Liz and her equally large daughters) for a plate of grease or the Market Diner at the Fruit and Veg market for a Gutbuster. Sorry for the long response I hope it jolts some memories.

What he said!
I f***ing loved Sherry's & later Coasters. Does anyone remember the twins that used to dance on the bar in Coasters when that old fudge packer Rory was spnning his tunes?

 

[Chicken Runner61]

What he said!
I f***ing loved Sherry's & later Coasters. Does anyone remember the twins that used to dance on the bar in Coasters when that old fudge packer Rory was spnning his tunes?

What the last few said!!

Remember it all well- Do you remember Captain Submarines!!!!!

Microwaved Salami and cheese long rolls that made your stomach feel even worse the next morning after 10 pints of sherbert.

Does anyone remember that place (well portacabin) down by the Palace pier that let you in whatever you were wearing and only was allowed to be open till 2pm because it served food (well a basket of chips). I think it was the Balaton or something. There was always about 30 fights a night in there every night.

 

[BigGully]

Hi,
I just stumbled on this thread and had a very happy hour reading all the reply's and remembering my own happy clubbing days. Starting in 1974 and finishing about 1990 I had 16 years of hardcore pubbing and clubbing. I was out on the razz most nights of the week. As I remember it:
Top Rank at the bottom of West Street housed, The Suite which became Oceania. That had the Syd Dean band playing half the night and a DJ called Phil Leppard in the 70,s/80's. Around the front of the building was Jenkinsons cabaret bar with resident band Bobby Samson (they were socks down his trousers). That went on to become Coasters with the dancing on the bar barmaids and the very gay DJ Rory and his tranny mate Biba. Next to that and down stairs was The Revolution. The Rev became Metro and then Busby,s. This was one of my favourites. DJ's Dougie Mac, Martin Jay, Andy King all kept in line by the managers Pat Shevlin and Big Pete in his white jacket. There was also cinemas, an ice rink and a roller rink in there.
Across the road was Sherrys, in my opinion the best club in town. DJ's Chino, Kenny Lynn, the go-go dancers, the live bands, the fights, the bouncers. WOW what a place. It had a lot of student nights on quite nights for EF language school. Lots of lovely scandinavian crumpet! We thought EF stood for EASY F***. Moving up West stree a couple of yards you came to the Queen Anne with Swifts night club and the box basement. Always rammed packed on a Friday before the clubs. A few more feet and you had Fawas's kebab and burger place and Harry Brigg's Pool Parlour. Both were full of Brightons villains and dodgy geysers and I loved going to em both. A few more feet and stumble in to the Bosun for a few drinks and a punch up then cross the road to the downstairs Bentley's club which later became marilyns.
Going west along the front would take you to Midnight Blues club under the Grand hotel and on to the Abinger pub, The Mardi Gras, The Bonsoir club.
North of West Street you had the drinking club in Queens Square, Sloopys up Dyke Road and the William Tell pub in Queens Road. Through the lanes/East street area you could find. The Pavilion Tavern (Pav Tav), Shades, The Sussex, The Druids Head, Deryck Carvers, the Clarence Wine Bar, Hennekys, The Cricketers, Bath Arms, Pump House, Golden Fleece, The Sea house in Middle Street and The Smugglers (with Night Fever Disco above) with the limping curly haired King Gerry on the decks . The Seven Stars in Ship Street was always packed. Move on back to the sea front and turn left, passed the curtain club (gay), the Alhambra/The Inn place and the Kings 1 before reaching The Pickwick. This pub at the end of East Street and next to the ABC cinema was owned by Michael and Freddie Forte and had 3 seperate venues. Downstairs was a dingy club, Fagins wine bar and cocktail lounge was on the ground floor, and up stairs was the best soul/funk club in Brighton TOPPERS with the amazing DJ Martin Jay. Around the corner you could grab a granny Junction club in the old steine and another great club was the Papillion underneath the Albion hotel. Cross the road to the Hungry Years and the Savanah/Escape/Revenge and Buccaneer.
Obviously these were at different periods of my party life and not all one one evening. However and werever you had been you had to end up at one of the greasy spoons. The Aqua in the Old Steine (Big Liz and her equally large daughters) for a plate of grease or the Market Diner at the Fruit and Veg market for a Gutbuster. Sorry for the long response I hope it jolts some memories.

Brilliant oversight.

Pretty sure Bentleys turned into Monroes and not Marylin's, just for future reference like !

 

[NMH]

Under the Queens Hotel on the seafront side was a nightclub called 'Markwell's'.

Not particularly great, but another local hangout in the 70's.