Coventry Dance Halls, Studios and Schools

Whilst on the subject - just found this plan of the Locarno/Tiffanys'. Would todays' builders still include a 'Boudoir!'

The boudoir had mirrors with lights round with a shelf underneath so we could all make ourselves look beautiful when you were watching us dancing round our handbags. They spoil it by referring to "Ladies Lavs". Then what was the "Stag Room".

Not exactly a "dancehall" but used as such in the 60s - Holy Trinity Church Hall, Ford Street - Tony Martin and the Echo Four, Woody Allen and The Challengers, etc

Went to a youth club there a couple of times in the late 1950s. The Bedworth Society had a talk about the Co-op Dance Hall in Nuneaton on Monday night. Very interesting. I had totally forgotten about the night in 1965 when they had four fatalities after a crush on the stairs. The site is now a Lidl store

I believe this is from 1963

Oh well then, no wonder I didn't get to go - 1963 - I was at home baby sitting whilst hubby was having his 'boy's night' out. 7/6 at the door, heavens above, I would say the prices have risen a tad since then!!!!

I've been reminded in another thread of where I used to go late on a Saturday evening. You couldn't really call it a dance hall, during the day it was an Italian Restaurant, but in the evening it became a night spot - Nello's. It was mainly used by people who lived in jeans and wore their hair long. The bar only sold bottled drinks and Colt45, I don't know why, but that was what you got. The music was mostly rock, and occasionally the DJ would throw out a question with a free drink for the correct answer. Many nights spent there.

A pal of mine was landlord of the Climax pub opposite and helped him set up the weekend disco nights for when his pub shut. The entrance fee included 'chicken in the basket'! The guys who ran the Virgin Records shop (also opposite at the end of the City Arcade) were also involved I think. Nello himself drowned whilst on holiday in the Bahamas or somewhere and Mario his head waiter took over running it with Nello's English wife for a short while and then it closed as I recall.

The 'bouncer' on the door at Nello's was a guy called Roy Spurgeon. Really burly chap but as nice a bloke as you could wish to meet. You're dead right Disorganised, long hair and jeans were the order of the day. I fitted in a treat!! If you had a meal downstairs in the restaurant area you were granted free admission to the disco upstairs.

That takes me back

I was on the door at the Locarno early 70's giving them a hand while on holiday from Forty Thieves club in Smithford Way. I threw a guy from Corley out for insulting the barmaids in the long bar upstairs at 8.30 and he drove back to Corley, got his shotgun and came back to kill me!!! I chased him down to the car park at the back of the Co-op, read him his horoscope, then dragged him back to the Rockhouse Tom from Oz

I have just enjoyed reading "Home Front Girls" by Rosie Goodwin, a story based in Coventry in WW2 about 3 girls who meet when they go to work at Owen Owen. I was a bit bemused when they go to a dance hall called the Locarno. Was there a "Locarno" before they built the new one in the 60's or is it just a bit of poetic license. Apart from that, a lovely book.