Uptown Top Rankin

Chris M · 08-09-2003, 12:35

Lots about night life in 70's lately - but I don't think anyone
mentioned the Top Rank Suite.
That was something when it opened 1968 ??
The tickets for Christmas Eve and New Year were like gold.
A few artists appeared there also - I remember going to
see the Small Faces perform - fantastic night.

Any more memories of the "Rank" anyone.

mikey · 08-09-2003, 12:49

More memories from the 80's when it was renamed Steeleys.

Went to see The Jam there - Top gig

Saturday night at Steeleys was great, 500 people on the dance floor dancing to Pig Bag with a load of change in there pockets, all you could here was the change jangling up and down.

Anybody need any memories jogging

http://www.pigbag.com

PaulTansley · 09-09-2003, 13:31

Used to go on a tuesday night to the Rank as a teenager.
Big John was the DJ a cocky guy who reveled in his role as a top DJ.
Don't know what become of him but don't mix him up with the present Big John of Hallam FM he is a different bloke.

Billy24 · 26-05-2005, 20:13

The Top Rank was a fabulous nightclub back in the 70's ... must have held thousands of people as it was that big.

Great memories of the place.

deelightful3 · 28-05-2005, 05:25

used to go to the saturday morning venue for kids at the top rank.

darra · 09-06-2005, 20:10

remember going on a sunday night and seeing The Police and two other bands for 50 p.

Albatross · 10-06-2005, 05:22

I remember one of the guys one night having to go to the hospital. He sat down on one of those seats that used to be on the balcony, someone had put a glass on the seat and it broke stabbing him in the backside.

playman · 10-06-2005, 08:17

saw mott the hoople there excellent gig.

paultheboxerman

Lostrider · 13-06-2005, 18:15

Quote:

Originally posted by Chris M
Lots about night life in 70's lately - but I don't think anyone
mentioned the Top Rank Suite.
That was something when it opened 1968 ??
The tickets for Christmas Eve and New Year were like gold.
A few artists appeared there also - I remember going to
see the Small Faces perform - fantastic night.

Any more memories of the "Rank" anyone.

I replied to this thread but it looks like it was lost in the ether. So i'll reply again.

The first DJ wI remeber was Bobby somebody (Ill try and dig his photo out), and he was replaced by Tony Prince who went on to bigger things I think. The first group I saw there was "Amen Corner" with Andy Fairweather Low and the last was Bowie in his Ziggy incarnation. Bowie was supported by the great Alexis Corner.
When it first opened I went to the Satuday afternoon "disco" for the under 18's. Last time I went there would be around 1974.

Fishpole · 14-06-2005, 18:40

Quote:

Originally posted by deelightful3
used to go to the saturday morning venue for kids at the top rank.

Aaaahhhh fond memories of marvelling at my white socks turning that lovely blue shade under the lights.

annelouise · 14-06-2005, 19:35

If you had a white bra on the lights would pick it out - very embarrassing.

We went in circa 1986?? when Gary Glitter was there and he fell off his shoes and couldn't appear, did his back in I think.

Wouldn't pay 10p to see him now!

Jillybabes · 17-06-2005, 15:04

Ah, my mum and dad used to go there when they were 'courting' in the early seventies. My mum ended up working there too for a couple of years in the early eighties and when it became the Roxy. Wasnt it Barry Noble who owned it? Im sure he died. I never went there myself. Used to go to other clubs such as Cairos and Jacks, Josephines, The Roundhouse, Uropa, The Rhythm Room and Millionaires. Those were great days!

peterf · 09-07-2006, 16:31

HI, I used to work at the Top Rank from june 1979 to august 1985 lots of good bands, good events, 20 or 30 dinner dances every year and lots of friends," punters" and staff ! The place held 2500 people, I hear the place is to be knocked down soon, Very sad !!!

Wattsy · 10-07-2006, 13:36

Oh yes had many a good night on a saturday. Went to the Beer keller first then onto Top Rank / Steelys / roxy whatever you want to call it.

Then when i felt more grown up I went to the Fiesta (Next Door)

peterf · 10-07-2006, 14:40

yeah, next door we had a cabaret type night club and a casino. A lot of the big names from the sixties and seventies played the Fiesta, all that, and you could get scampi in a basket! sophistication or what !

docmel · 12-07-2006, 05:43

i am sure that in the late 60's there was something on at the Top Rank on a Tuesday night.

All the 'lads' went down there and we all 'did the tour' - walked round the edge of the dance floor, trying to spot someone who may just say yes if you asked her to dance - then walk up the 'back staircase' - on the balcony, had another look down onto the dance floor - and then down the other stairs - carried on until you managed to 'pull' - or left lonely at 10:30 to get the last bus home

Windmillgal · 12-07-2006, 12:52

What memories!

Tuesday night at the 'Rank' - remember the DJ and that awful Slush stuff!!!

When the stage started to revolve and Maurice Naylor's band started to play the dance floor emptied quicker than a drain!!

We too moved to the Fiesta when we had 'grown up'

peterf · 12-07-2006, 23:24

The Maurice Naylor band ,ah yes, thursday nights "grab a granny" night! in reality it was "over 25`s" night, so the band and the two two dj`s did alternate spots until 10 pm, a lot of the older punters got lot of pleasure out of that.
after 10 the music changed so they drifted away, leaving the place to the under 50`s
I recall the dj`s were a thin guy with a `tash and a permed mullet called Stewart and a rotund younger bloke called Steve...I last saw Steve dj`ing a bar in Benidorm about 1988-9.

peterf · 12-07-2006, 23:33

P.S. !!! I meant the dj was called Stewart, not the mullet !!!

crimble · 02-03-2007, 19:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jillybabes

Ah, my mum and dad used to go there when they were 'courting' in the early seventies. My mum ended up working there too for a couple of years in the early eighties and when it became the Roxy. Wasnt it Barry Noble who owned it? Im sure he died. I never went there myself. Used to go to other clubs such as Cairos and Jacks, Josephines, The Roundhouse, Uropa, The Rhythm Room and Millionaires. Those were great days!

I'd be interested to know what your mums name is as both my wife and I worked at the rank during the early eighties and are stillin touch with some of the staff