"The Fourtones had a regular Sunday night gig at the Club Creole, my hobby at the time was electronics, and I was asked to build a PA system and a twin turntable DJ desk (complete with pre-amps) which I did, trouble
was because I did it as a favour, I didn't charge enough for it, still you live and learn!"
Butch Mepham
Golden Oldies like myself who enjoy a nostalgia trip may like to know that the furniture company who use The Rex for a showroom have kept the stage as a show piece. If you pay the shop a visit it is not difficult to transport yourself back to the sixties.
Great club,great times.Met the girl who became my wife there (still married)every one was your mate.The bouncer was a bit scary though,if he thought you were new to the club he would look you straight in the eye and say "No trouble,o.k." and there never was!!
Tony Harrison
10/10/09
I used to frequent Club Creole (a former jazz club) pretty regularly between 1962 and 1964. It was the only profesional venue for live music in Wilmslow so a big draw for music-crazed teenagers.
The club occupied the space on the first floor above the passage that took the road through to the Rex car park at the rear. The doorway, to the left of the passage at ground level, led to a concrete staircase leading up to a small landing where the door staff stood guard. It was said that unco-operative guests were liable to find themselves at the foot of the stairs without touching the sides! Maybe that was just a rumour.
It was a licensed premises but I and my mates were all aged between 14 and 16. So we used to join the queue confidently puffing cigarettes in the hope that this would increase our chances of getting in. It seems to have worked as I don't think we were ever turned away.
The club was basically one large room with a small step-on stage and an adjoining bar. The place was usually packed and sweltering, with lines six-deep at the bar struggling to get a pint. Ronnie Fitch, who worked at the greengrocer's opposite, was one of the barmen.
I went back to have a look at the place a few years ago. As Tony Harrison says, the stage is still there and, despite the soft furnishing surroundings, the ghosts of the Sixties had still not completely departed... music, dancing, voices, smoke, sweat, scent (Old Spice!), alcohol, fun!
Alan Thomas
15/1/10
After being called the Creole it became the Whiskey Galore - "Saturday night at the Whiskey" sung to the tune of "Saturday night at the movies" !
Nigel Booth
6/2/12
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