Tabernacle, later Sgt Peppers (Hillgate, Stockport)
The Tabernacle Club was later called Sgt. Peppers when it was sold to Tony Stewart (b. Anthony Stewart).
Information courtesy John H. Warburg
Never heard anyone mention Jimmy Cohen who used to DJ at the Tabernacle Club Stockport. He played a lot of what we now term as northern soul.
I remember going with him some mates and Jimmy Cliff, after his act, to the Capriccio Cafe in Stockport for a coffee then on the Jimmys flat in Heaton Moor to listen to records.Whatever happened to Jimmy?
Bernard Roberts - 21/2/12
Went there from 67' to its change to Sgt Peppers, which completely ruined the place. Saw Edwin starr there, Pyramids, Jimmy Ruffin to name a few. Loved the place, My intro to the soul scene and still with it. Only sold soft drinks so people used to go out to the pubs on Hillgate.
Love to know what happened to all the people that used to go there.
Paul Blackburn - 1/6/12
I used to go to the Tabernacle and also The Sinking Ship (further down Lower Hillgate, down a ginnel opposite Winter's jewellers) in 66/67 prior to joining the RAF.
I can't ever remember seeing any live acts on there, just a DJ playing records and have vivid memories of a girl taking over the dancefloor to 'Your Love Has Lifted Me Higher'.
The Sinking Ship also only sold soft drinks and I coincidentally ended up marrying the young girl (Marcia Connell)who sold the said drinks! The Ship unfortunately 'burnt down' in 67. Marcia can remember Jimi Hendrix playing there! His guitar was taller than she was at 4' 11".
Ian Mac Gilvery - 22/6/12
I remember seeing The Love Affair and Amen Corner there in 1967
Christine Condon - 25/6/12
As a student at Moseley Hall Grammar School in Cheadl e a whole group of us used to go to The Tabernacle and drink in th epubs on Hillgate and Higher Hillgate. I recall seeing Pink Floyd there in April 1967, Amen Corner, Small Faces, Hendrix, Jimmy Cliff and lots of others.
Sid Rose - 2/7/12
I used to go to the Tab. every weekend and on a Wednesday too I think.Also the Cappricio cafe for Russian tea ( oh so sophisticated !). We used to go regularily to the Bamboo in Hazel Grove too.
My friends were Lynn Beswick, Lesley Wilkinson,Carol Taylor .We also hung about with Mavis Bek and her two friends.
Sometimies at the weekend we would go into town to Takis or Sloopys. Saw so many bands at the Tabernacle I've probably forgotton half of them. It was great because not licensed we could get away with being 16 although we were only just 14.
I remember Jimmy Cliff being on all the time (and they were great nights ) and Long John Baldry.I'm sure people don't believe we saw bands like Pink Floyd , Jimmy Handrix, Rod Stewart with the Faces etc. for 5s and 2s6d in the week(or was it 2s6d at weekends and 2s in the week).
The first time we went the Nashville Teens were playing. I remember the light show with Pink Floyd and came out feeling a bit peculiar.We used to stick individual eyelashes on and paint in the bottom level and one night we pe'd heard Vaseline would make your eyelashes shimmer ,however dancing in that heat all night we went to the loo to see ourselves looking like a pair of pandas- our street cred. down the tube ! Also those ultra violet lights that showed up every speck of dust and all your freckles weren't too flattering.I used to leave at the very last minute and fly over St Thomas' rec. in the pitch dark to stay just a few minutes longer . What great times - what a great place !
Irene Taylor - 12/10/12
I used to go to the Tabernacle Club from 1967. I remember seeing Hendrix, Cat Stevens, Amen Corner and many more. I can remember the leatherette seating on the left as you went in and then further on a large space for dancing. My mum used to work for a company on Canal Street, which was just round the corner and she regularly got someone's autograph for me if she spotted anyone leaving Strawberry Studios.
One day she was admiring a car parked outside when someone said "what do you think love". When she looked round she recognised Bernard Manning. He offered to take her for a spin but she didn't have time as she was on her dinner break.
Used to go to the Caprice and drink the tea with lemon served in glasses.
Lots of memories, standing in the record booths in Neil and Hardy's on a Saturday deciding which 45 or EP to buy. Recording Pick of the Pops on my record player every Sunday afternoon.
Incidentally I have a photo of my mum and dad on their wedding day - taken outside the Tabernacle but when it used to be a church.
Jan Garvey - 20/2/13
Does anybody know of a guy called "Len" that use to frequent The Tabernacle in late 1960's???
Would like to get back in touch.
Debbie Blackburn - 10/4/13
I used to go to Tabernacle - saw Small Faces there. Does any one remember the Manor Lounge near Blossoms pub - had some great nights there too - saw Dave Dee, Dozy, Mick and Tich there.
Victoria Rayson - 3/11/13
I went to the Tabernacle many times and saw some amazing bands. Pink Floyd with their white sheets and oil slide projections (how things have changed!), The Jimmy Hendrix Experience, Jimmy Cliff, Cat Stevens, Amen Corner, The Faces, Julie Driscoll & the Brian Auger Trinity ('Wheels on Fire' is the Ab Fab theme), The Purple Gang and many more.
My best memory is standing talking to Jimmy Hendrix and asking him where he got his 'military jacket' from (old Hussar type jacket) and he said 'Moss Brothers' which we all though was funny at the time. He gave me a signed copy of 'Hey Joe' on which he wrote "walk both ways while taking a trip" and "dig the sounds".
Great memories!
Paul Quin - 21/11/13
People I saw at the Tabernacle - Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Cliff (several times), the woman dancer from Ready, Steady, Go (the guys should remember that night!).
Jimmy Cliff used to do break dancing moves.
Jan Burke (was Janet Eaton) - 1/3/14
Acts that appeared at the Tab included
- Friday, 27 January 1967: The Small Faces
- Sunday, March 12, 1967: The Smoke
- Friday, March 17, 1967: The Cryin' Shames
- Sunday, March 19, 1967: The Koobas
- Friday, March 24, 1967: The Family, plus The Powerhouse
- Saturday, March 25, 1967: The Nashville Teens
- Sunday: March 26, 1967: The Jimi Hendrix Experience, billed as Jimmi Hendrix
- Easter Monday: March 27, 1967: Amen Corner
- Friday, April 28, 1967: Pink Floyd
- Sunday, May 28, 1967: The Jeff Beck Group
- Friday, July 7, 1967: Family
- Friday, July 21, 1967: The Easybeats
- Sunday, September 3, 1967: The Jeff Beck Group
- Sunday, October 15, 1967: The Herd
- Sunday, February 4, 1968: Plastic Penny
Courtesy John H. Warburg
Comments
Crowds of people were heading to the rear - didn't know what was going on - hadn't heard any news.
Followed some of them and saw what became known as The Stockport Air Disaster.
Still struggle to comprehend how the pilot managed to land an aircraft in such a small space in between houses and factories.
I was the DJ at Sgt Peppers from 73 until it burnt down with a break in between.(to go to another club!!) but had to come back.
Island switched him to their pink label for more soul based stuff including ‘Give And Take’, 'Pride & Passion', ‘Aim & Ambition’, ‘Hard Road To Travel’ and ‘That’s The Way Life Goes’, his first big international hit ( in Brazil) was ‘Waterfall’, written by Alex Spyropoulos and Patrick Campbell-Lyons from the psychedelic pop group Island label mates Nirvana.
On a different note - I know your knowledge is deep/wide - I remember going to a record company showcase downstairs in New Century Hall. Must have been 68 and I feel it was Trojan. Great day but cant remember too much. Mind tells me Toots and The Maytals were one act, ties in with Trojan (pre-island).
Any knowledge of this? Not well attended.
Paul
Even more boring, I was once faced with a rare night off and had the chance to see either of two psychedelic groups - one at the TAB and one at St Bernadettes YC in Withington. I chose the YC as I could walk home. I saw a very poor Karl Douglas and the Big Stampede - minus Mr Douglas. Their pschedelic light show was a short 8mm film of them running around a park, shown numerous times.
I should have gone to the TAB - Pink Floyd.