Hi all.

Any memories of the Beachcomber cafe next door to the Casino, as I recall it used to be open from 8-10a.m. Think they opened this up to keep all the nighter crowd off the streets and out of the swimming baths. Never seen any photos from in there, anyone help out?

Ulyssees

The more discerning kept well away from Beachcomber, it was for dirty drugies and pill dealers, but then so was the casino.

Spent many a nite with Charlie Chester's and Geoff Oakes on the house scene during the 90's. Mr Chester was one of a rare few left of the naughtie forty squad.

Hi Andy sadly Kenny i Spence passed away a good few years ago late eighties i think, he was from Aspull were i still live he was a father figure to many people from our village Ste Whittle, Ian Wills, Kev Murphy, to name just a few, beachcomber was open prior to the nighters but that was early Wigan days 73-74 cant comment on what went on thereafter,the cafe i think you mean was next door to the Beachcomber but still entered it from the same door way Emp cafe it used to be called,and i must say in ref to all the comments made i Never in all the time at Wigan saw any trouble,,,,,

Hi sorry to hear about Kenny i really liked his laid back approach Some people seem to be confusing the cafe on the front with the Beachcomber But i rember the beachcomber as a dark dingy place where some evil looking characters lurked , an intimidating place

.As for trouble and those doormen . I recall one time when a gang of very dodgy black guys wearing leopard skin banded trilby hats came down

they were intent on stealing drugs money bags etc guys were mugged in the toilets guys and girls had bags and other stuff stolen

It was said they were carrying shooters but i never saw one . the doormen got wind of their antics and phone calls were made to all the other doormen from the wigan clubs . As Mr M's opened the doormen surrounded them in the foyer of M's we ran through m's and across the balcony and back around and sat on the stairs When it kicked off those guys got the biggest kicking from the door staff i have ever seen dished out .needless to say they never returned !

Edited December 18, 201113 yr by allnightandy

Allnightandy I was just thinking about the Band of Gold instrumental the other day. Always liked it. Someone mentioned Mr Ms opening in the morning after the nighter. Yes thats right. About 77 seems correct. I remember well as I got "invited" to the toilets by two guys I thought were DS. They relieved me of about £100 I had on me. Fool that I was in those days.

Allnightandy I was just thinking about the Band of Gold instrumental the other day. Always liked it. Someone mentioned Mr Ms opening in the morning after the nighter. Yes thats right. About 77 seems correct. I remember well as I got "invited" to the toilets by two guys I thought were DS. They relieved me of about £100 I had on me. Fool that I was in those days.

Hi Steve this wasn't M's It was yet another club type place under the casino up the alley between the casino and the cafe i think it was actually underneath the stage of the main dance hall As for them two guys . In about 75/76 same sort of thing happened to me

I was in the record bar at about 4 o'clock in the morning four guys walked up and said "Drug squd" he flashed me a card

he said what have you taken ?

I said nothing why ,and i hadn't! "turn out your pockets etc ! Why ? because i want to see what you have got in them

I said "show me that card again ,No he said we are going to take you outside and search you .No your feckin not i said , I ain't going anywhere with you , With that i called one of the barmaids over and asked her to phone Mike Walker to come down and check if these guys were "Squad" they bottled it and left but what i remember was they were not soulies or "Squad" they were dressed like "Townies" and had probably wandered in to see what it was about and decided to try and steal a few bob while they were at it !

I had a fight recorded on tape from around 74 ish.....right hand side of the stage looking from the dancefloor. Russ`s voice can be heard "Any bouncers to the stage, any bouncers" but by the time they got there it had been broken up. Record playing was Levi Jackson - This beautiful day.

I remember the night well, you're dead right mate - right hand side of stage- must have been the same incident as I've never heard a dj at a nighter asking for bouncers before or since.

I was on the dancefloor and it was Coddy going for Bootlace.

Coddy had earlier on in the night tried to roll me, well, he grabbed me by the shirt and yelled in my face "GIVE ME YOUR MONEY".

I was a very skinny, smashed 17 year old, I pleaded poverty and he just let go and walked off - smashing chap I thought.

Spoke to me later on - nearly shat misself when I saw him coming towards me - real nice bloke though.

The bouncers were in no great hurry to get there when they realised who it was,and it was all over in a minute.

Happy Days.

Edited December 20, 201113 yr by SOULFULHOUND

I remember the night well, you're dead right mate - right hand side of stage- must have been the same incident as I've never heard a dj at a nighter asking for bouncers before or since.

I was on the dancefloor and it was Coddy going for Bootlace.

Coddy had earlier on in the night tried to roll me, well, he grabbed me by the shirt and yelled in my face "GIVE ME YOUR MONEY".

I was a very skinny, smashed 17 year old, I pleaded poverty and he just let go and walked off - smashing chap I thought.

Spoke to me later on - nearly shat misself when I saw him coming towards me - real nice bloke though.

The bouncers were in no great hurry to get there when they realised who it was,and it was all over in a minute.

Happy Days.

Not long after that night I think it was Russ on the mic announcing Bootlace had been run over and killed on his way to the Casino, top bloke I thought, although a bit of a plonker with his RIKER holdall Me and Toothie (Steve Howarth) used to hitch down to the Top Rank on a Saturday after the Torch was no more, Then get the coach up to Wigan with the Stoke lot, 50 pence each for our one-way trip...sat with him on the journey up a few times. I remember the police pulling the coach at Congleton services but most of us had quickly downed the evidence

A quick pants-down shoes off search and we we back on the way.

When I first went wigan in 76 the beachcomber was open after the nighter

About September 76 the place flooded one morning

It was a weird place remember sitting on box like things? Could have been stage props ?

I agree think star wars bar but a bit more surreal !!

After the flood they used to re- open mr m's as an after nighter place

Greater Manchesters' finest D S used to lay in wait as you came

out and made your way to the station

Also used to sometimes go in m's before the nighter sort of a night club selling beer !!!

Edited December 23, 201113 yr by spike1

Some great stories here! It always make me laugh when Dustbin Stanley says he never saw any trouble at the Casino!

I had a fight recorded on tape from around 74 ish.....right hand side of the stage looking from the dancefloor. Russ`s voice can be heard "Any bouncers to the stage, any bouncers" but by the time they got there it had been broken up. Record playing was Levi Jackson - This beautiful day.

Hi Steve,

I think the guy was from Bolton. He was being hassled by someone taking the mick. He smacked him twice and said to him "now f*** off out before I really start" as Baeutiful Day rang out from the speakers. Russ asked for bouncers but by the time they got there it was all over and no action taken.

The Beachcomber after the nighter ran from 8 til 10. It was to put it mildly, intimidating. Dark, dingy but fantastic atmosphere. I remember they once played a records so loud that I nearly fell off my chair at one intro. To dance in there you had to be really good as no OK dancers ever seemed to get up. I heard Dena Barnes in there for the first time. I asked Fuse what it was and he didn't know. (I saw Toofy a few weeks ago. Not imto soul at all now, which amazed me. Nice reg no. on Linda's car by the way!)

When it closed I used to quite enjoy the baths! A bit safer, but there was till some hassle in the changing rooms.

Hi Steve,

I think the guy was from Bolton. He was being hassled by someone taking the mick. He smacked him twice and said to him "now f*** off out before I really start" as Baeutiful Day rang out from the speakers. Russ asked for bouncers but by the time they got there it was all over and no action taken.

The Beachcomber after the nighter ran from 8 til 10. It was to put it mildly, intimidating. Dark, dingy but fantastic atmosphere. I remember they once played a records so loud that I nearly fell off my chair at one intro. To dance in there you had to be really good as no OK dancers ever seemed to get up. I heard Dena Barnes in there for the first time. I asked Fuse what it was and he didn't know. (I saw Toofy a few weeks ago. Not imto soul at all now, which amazed me. Nice reg no. on Linda's car by the way!)

When it closed I used to quite enjoy the baths! A bit safer, but there was till some hassle in the changing rooms.

Thats right, word for word (you must have my tape,lol.) "Now f''k off out for I really start"....he was a big bloke as I remember, I think I was checking my tape recorder (ITT )

Not seen Steve Toofy since he joined the merchant navy in....what was it? 74 ish??

I bought her the number for her 40 something birthday a good few years ago.....she said she saw you the other week, she`s sh1t with names..."That good looking bloke you grew up with....Brian"....obviously her eyes aren't the best

Kestral New Years Eve?

Thats right, word for word (you must have my tape,lol.) "Now f''k off out for I really start"....he was a big bloke as I remember, I think I was checking my tape recorder (ITT )

Not seen Steve Toofy since he joined the merchant navy in....what was it? 74 ish??

I bought her the number for her 40 something birthday a good few years ago.....she said she saw you the other week, she`s sh1t with names..."That good looking bloke you grew up with....Brian"....obviously her eyes aren't the best

Kestral New Years Eve?

Hi Steve,

Thats you in big trouble.... "I bought her the number for her 40 something birthday a good few years ago"!!!!!

Can't make the KS, something else on. Went to Romans do last month there and only 2 beer pumps at that time. Might have changed now though. My suggestion would be get some cans in the boot in a cool box. They sell John Smiths and Carling in cans if the beer runs out. Still a great venue....

Steve became an elevator service engineer. When I saw him around 2005 or so, we were talking about the Torch, the Mecca, the Casino and the little do's we went to. I was absolutely gobsmacked when he said that he had never been into the music but he went cos the scene was exciting!! Honestly, I nearly fell over. He likes heavy rock now!

Were you in his house when Inky dropped his pants to show packages taped to his thigh? One of the packages burst open and we all dived on the peculiar coloured pill and capsules that went all over the floor, the settee, behind the telly, whilst Toofy was trying to stop the dog eating them!

I was also taping that night but distinctly remember lending it to John Roscoe to listen to and never saw it again. (hint hint!).

Have a great New Year.

Hi Steve,

Thats you in big trouble.... "I bought her the number for her 40 something birthday a good few years ago"!!!!!

Can't make the KS, something else on. Went to Romans do last month there and only 2 beer pumps at that time. Might have changed now though. My suggestion would be get some cans in the boot in a cool box. They sell John Smiths and Carling in cans if the beer runs out. Still a great venue....

Steve became an elevator service engineer. When I saw him around 2005 or so, we were talking about the Torch, the Mecca, the Casino and the little do's we went to. I was absolutely gobsmacked when he said that he had never been into the music but he went cos the scene was exciting!! Honestly, I nearly fell over. He likes heavy rock now!

Were you in his house when Inky dropped his pants to show packages taped to his thigh? One of the packages burst open and we all dived on the peculiar coloured pill and capsules that went all over the floor, the settee, behind the telly, whilst Toofy was trying to stop the dog eating them!

I was also taping that night but distinctly remember lending it to John Roscoe to listen to and never saw it again. (hint hint!).

Have a great New Year.

Bloody hell Roscoe, thats a name from the past, sadly no longer with us.

Both Steve and I were into prog rock (I still am ) I think Steve was more into the scene as a whole but could take or leave the music....and whatever he says, he WAS definitely into the music, he was a damn good dancer!

Don't remember the night at his house though but I think I know where the gear came from

great reading!!! Couple of points....a fella called "SCOUSE" was mentioned,well l knew a fella called scouse who was indeed from liverpool,but for a while lived in NORTHANTS he was much older than us little lot he was very tall,thin and of mixed race.We used to score off of him on a regular basis.Mentioned this before but here we are again...one of our party called jonny burns was rolled at the torch,he pointed out the culprit to barry (SCOUSE)...who danced over to this fella and his mates did a backdrop on the way up stuck the nut on this fella and stabbed him in the leg...sh*t the life outta me didn,r bother him one bit....fast forward a few years l walked into the cafe next to the beachcomber and ther was scouse sat at a table arguing with two fellows,one of the fellows stood up,put his hands on each side of the table,lent over to forcefully get his point over...when barry pulled out a ballpane hammer and smashed it down on one of this fellas hands...err end of discussion.....last l heard was doing time for murder (probably out now ). The other thing....does anyone remember a fells who used to stand in the beachcomber with a scary rubber mask on from time to time...he used to smoke through the mouth hole...used to scare me sh*tless as well lol

Edited December 27, 201113 yr by gordon russell

edit.

Edited December 27, 201113 yr by KevH

we used to go in the night before the casino opened. Can't remember going there in the morning, but can't remember much about the mornings after....................................

I used to go in there before the casino openned , that is if I did'nt manage to get to a certain scoucers house . I have a guy who lives in my village , an ex-Wiganite called Danny who reckons to have DJ'ed in there , a small dark haired guy . Not to sure myself as my nmemories seems to go on strike quite often these days

I used to go in there before the casino openned , that is if I did'nt manage to get to a certain scoucers house . I have a guy who lives in my village , an ex-Wiganite called Danny who reckons to have DJ'ed in there , a small dark haired guy . Not to sure myself as my nmemories seems to go on strike quite often these days

think your getting confused with the cafe next door . as the beachcomber didnt open before the nighter or it didnt when i went in the early days ?, it was a club in its own right a few years before the nighters started us wiganers went there as it was a mod /youth club

when the nighters started it was a place used in the mornings after the nighter where folks could hang around until they had there travell plans sorted . personley i thought it was a horrible place , in those days i lived just down the rd and if i wasnt going on to blackbeat bolton or the ritz or some buggers house .i would set off to walk home i got turned over by the ds in there little maroon mini nearly every week .

Edited December 28, 201113 yr by steptoe

think your getting confused with the cafe next door . as the beachcomber didnt open before the nighter or it didnt when i went in the early days ?, it was a club in its own right a few years before the nighters started us wiganers went there as it was a mod /youth club

when the nighters started it was a place used in the mornings after the nighter where folks could hang around until they had there travell plans sorted . personley i thought it was a horrible place , in those days i lived just down the rd and if i wasnt going on to blackbeat bolton or the ritz or some buggers house .i would set off to walk home i got turned over by the ds in there little maroon mini nearly every week .

I'm sure your knowledge as a local wiil be greater than mine but The Beachcomber was definitely open on an evening before the main allnighter in 74 and reopened in the morning again for a couple of hours after the nighter.

Manus

Manus

I'm sure your knowledge as a local wiil be greater than mine but The Beachcomber was definitely open on an evening before the main allnighter in 74 and reopened in the morning again for a couple of hours after the nighter.

Manus

Manus

Yes it was!...........from early 74. It just shows how our memories differ, I cant remember it being open after the nighters.....we used to go to the baths and practice our drowning skills.

Yes it was!...........from early 74. It just shows how our memories differ, I cant remember it being open after the nighters.....we used to go to the baths and practice our drowning skills.

im not talking about the cafe im meaning the club underneath thats what this thread is about i think , anyway i also did the baths once or twice but that was worse very depressing i thought , i can tell you with bells on it was open in the mornings after the nighter and i dont ever remember it being open befor the nighter . but having said that i stopped queueing up outside in station rd as i got a pass as a cleaner then as a coke lad shifting coke from one bar to another . i also remember the rock nights before the nighter started at one time ?

Edited December 28, 201113 yr by steptoe

I'm sure your knowledge as a local wiil be greater than mine but The Beachcomber was definitely open on an evening before the main allnighter in 74 and reopened in the morning again for a couple of hours after the nighter . open before allnighter yes reopened in the morning only a short time billy

Manus

Manus

after collaborating with a few other peeps i think ive worked it out , the beachcomber was indeed open before the nighters but they was infrequent .i remember folks trying to fit in the little cafe in winter time trying to keep warm and started thinking if the comber was open why didnt most go in there then to keep warm? but also realised the sheer amount miling about in station rd obviously could only fit so many in but i still dont remember it being open before the nighter but obviously it was .

Edited December 29, 201113 yr by steptoe

The Beachcomber was open in 73 when the niter started it stayed open until around midnite when the doorstaff started to waz people out at the time i had the Bungalow in Lowton where myself Terry Hastings, Billy Mac, Nicky Abbott, Paul Melling Billy Ferrett,Kev Fox

Rob Tully Joe Sines, Shawy, Aileen, Rita and around another half dozen or so soulies lived at any one time Before we use to go to the niter we use to sort out some tunes to play in the beachcomer and i can still see Alan Cain, Bri Rigby myself and a few others playing 45,s on that owd record player in the bungalow mad days indeed up to our necks in filon daps, blueys and green n clears ect Ah the days of our youth

Ian Cunliffe

Edited December 29, 201113 yr by IANCSLOFT

The Beachcomber was open in 73 when the niter started it stayed open until around midnite when the doorstaff started to waz people out at the time i had the Bungalow in Lowton where myself Terry Hastings, Billy Mac, Nicky Abbott, Paul Melling Billy Ferrett,Kev Fox

Rob Tully Aileen, Rita and around another half dozen or so soulies lived at any one time Before we use to go to the niter we use to sort out some tunes to play in the beachcomer and i can still see Alan Cain, Bri Rigby myself and a few others playing 45,s on that owd record player in the bungalow mad days indeed up to our necks in filon daps, blueys and green n clears ect Ah the days of our youth

Ian Cunliffe

I HEARD THAT A MR FRANK BOOPER USE TO COME TO YOURE BUNGALOW !!! THAT MUST HAVE BEEN A TREAT IF HE DANCED AT YOURS, AND ALL THAT GEAR KNOCKING ABOUT ,MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE FANTASY ISLAND

The Beachcomber was open in 73 when the niter started it stayed open until around midnite when the doorstaff started to waz people out at the time i had the Bungalow in Lowton where myself Terry Hastings, Billy Mac, Nicky Abbott, Paul Melling Billy Ferrett,Kev Fox

Rob Tully Aileen, Rita and around another half dozen or so soulies lived at any one time Before we use to go to the niter we use to sort out some tunes to play in the beachcomer and i can still see Alan Cain, Bri Rigby myself and a few others playing 45,s on that owd record player in the bungalow mad days indeed up to our necks in filon daps, blueys and green n clears ect Ah the days of our youth

Ian Cunliffe

ohi pops i remember all them lot as you know. but still canot remember it being open but ive explained the reason

anyway kev agrees with me but you being older ect' ps i can still see (a cain) stood with his stanly knife in hand :lol:

i'll never forget seeing terry hastings in the bogs in the moring at the end of the allnighter dressed in a football kit complete with boots ....i said why are you dressed like that terry ....answer coz im going for a game of f...ing football what do you think :lol:

Edited December 28, 201113 yr by steptoe

I HEARD THAT A MR FRANK BOOPER USE TO COME TO YOURE BUNGALOW !!! THAT MUST HAVE BEEN A TREAT IF HE DANCED AT YOURS, AND ALL THAT GEAR KNOCKING ABOUT ,MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE FANTASY ISLAND

Correct in fact he got busted by the serious crime squad who had been staking out our digs for quite a while

Just as a side note to that

does anybody remember the bouncers opening the firedoor in the alley next to the beachcomber ?

when everybody else was pushing to get through half a door at the front , they would open the side fire exit and divert the back of the queue in through it charging £2 (No change given) and escorted into the casino , i think through Mr M's

Money straight in pocket of course !

YES

YES

no... lol

Just as a side note to that

does anybody remember the bouncers opening the firedoor in the alley next to the beachcomber ?

when everybody else was pushing to get through half a door at the front , they would open the side fire exit and divert the back of the queue in through it charging £2 (No change given) and escorted into the casino , i think through Mr M's

Money straight in pocket of course !

I remember the second doors at the front right of the building being opened on anniversaries or particularly busy nights.

It could be a lock-out with guys trying to blag tickets on the street, etc

Suddenly at about 2 or 3am this second door would open and bouncers would call punters towards it

"Anyone without a ticket .....over here"

Money changed hands and then you would then appear in the club via the record bar. Happy days!

I have since been led to believe that Gerry Marshall knew nothing about that extra door...............

I remember the second doors at the front right of the building being opened on anniversaries or particularly busy nights.

It could be a lock-out with guys trying to blag tickets on the street, etc

Suddenly at about 2 or 3am this second door would open and bouncers would call punters towards it

"Anyone without a ticket .....over here"

Money changed hands and then you would then appear in the club via the record bar. Happy days!

I have since been led to believe that Gerry Marshall knew nothing about that extra door...............

Nor Mike Walker i would wager !

..yes..remember the beachcomber from early '74 onwards maybe for a year or so? there was a DJ who played mainly oldies..and scalding cups of tea! Always had a very tense atmoshere.. i think because so many people were coming down! and yes there were a few mean looking characters..i never dared to ask anyone to look at their records..i once taped a DJ session in there ..esp ' comin to your rescue'..when i got home ..discovered the Batts were low and when i got new ones the track played twice as fast & DJ sounded like pinky & perky..i think it was mainly to keep the folks off the streets as nobody seemed too bothered about going home..as for bouncers..i once took Steve Clarke from Worksop to Wigan about the same time..he WAS hard! he was always skint..so he led me down the side of the casino thru a side door..thru the corridors..until a bouncer appeared..Steve glared at him..and he never said a word! just let us pass..needless to say i was more than a little anxious..whatever happened to Steve? would Kev Roberts remember him?

We was let in via the roof on the BETTY WRIGHT evening that was bloody scarey there must have been 50+ people up there,reason being we had no tickets and i knew a bouncer Jackie Halliwell who still lives me now to this day .so we went up via the cloak room early session and sat and waited till the nighter was under way and then he let us back in he must have a made a few bob !!!!

The thing l remember about the beachcomber on a sunday morning was being pestered by a guy

called LARRY LIGHTENING who stood by the entrance to the b/comber and asked everyone if they'd

lend him 10p. Although he looked menacing, he always said THANK YOU regardless of whether

you gave him 10 pence or not!!

Tony Warot

Allnightandy I was just thinking about the Band of Gold instrumental the other day. Always liked it. Someone mentioned Mr Ms opening in the morning after the nighter. Yes thats right. About 77 seems correct. I remember well as I got "invited" to the toilets by two guys I thought were DS. They relieved me of about £100 I had on me. Fool that I was in those days.

Hi Steve, the "BAND OF GOLD" instrumental was by the "ARMADA ORCHESTRA" (uk contempo

tony warot.

Hi Steve, the "BAND OF GOLD" instrumental was by the "ARMADA ORCHESTRA" (uk contempo

tony warot.

May of been the Cloud Nine Disco Strings version of the LP, played around a bit in mid 70s ?

Ian

disco strings cloud nine,covered and played at cats

Thanks guys. Alright Tony.

thanks lads for putting me right about "band of gold", the armada orchestra did instrumental of "DO ME RIGHT" l must be getting

old and losing the plot!! hope you're all well. tony warot.

Thanks guys. Alright Tony.

Hi steve, yes l'm fine thanx. are you still into the CRUFTS thing? haven't seen you in yonks but bump into sean quite often, it's about time

you ventured out a bit more. tone.

Hi steve, yes l'm fine thanx. are you still into the CRUFTS thing? haven't seen you in yonks but bump into sean quite often, it's about time

you ventured out a bit more. tone.

He does Tone, he was a Stewartby a while ago, I turned around at Stiks birthday do and you had gone, see you soon. Andy

He does Tone, he was a Stewartby a while ago, I turned around at Stiks birthday do and you had gone, see you soon. Andy

hi andy, l'm not able to go wherever and whenever the mood takes me, as you know, l'm still out of work and a pain in the welfare state's arse.

if l want to go anywhere at all, l've got to plan it weeks in advance and ask around to see if anyone "MIGHT" be going. public transport is

far too expensive and time consuming, but it's not gonna get any better unless l get a job and believe me, nobody in the world wants a job

more than l do, SO, if there are any engineering company bosses reading this, and have a vacancy for a skilled MIG/MMA welder, then l'd

like to hear from you. . PLEASE!!!

Sorry about stewartby t'other week andy, we can catch up another time, okay?

Tone.

Hi Tony, have PM'ed you mate as I think we are what is called " off topic"

Went in the beachcomber many times with my mate Russ Bowers (Rug),for a cup of tea/coffee the fist time and to drool over the two

gorgeous girls (white /cream mac's with soul or soul sister ? badges on the arms) thereafter ,never had the courage to speak though, it was quite an intimidating place.......

Edited March 30, 201213 yr by mecca74

Some mornings those couple of hours in the Beachcomber where better than the nighter (every night wasn't brilliant). Seem to remember John Vincent D.J'ing in there, toilets were very dark (not easy to crank up) but the edgy atmosphere got the buzz going. Someone compared it to the bar scene in Star Wars, thats about right.