Remembering Cardiff's old clubs: Montys, Smileys, Moon, Revolution, Top Rank...

[Rickinnocal]

She remembered instantly. Qui-Qui's. She was a nursing student at the Heath, and a lot of them hung out there.

 

[ddraig]

Conflicted about this. Not particularly upset that another plastic paddy pub is shutting, I much preferred it as the Four Bars. However it looks like it might be turning into some sort of fine dining thing instead, leaving the city another pub short. There are no longer any pubs left in Riverside - a backpackers hostel is the closest thing left

gonna be bad for live music losing the room upstairs

 

[Chris Langley]

Hi I'm a local artist creating a unique art series of Cardiff pubs - past & present. Please take a look at my site for the ones I have done so far; I'm looking for stories and memories for an article I hope to do soon with a local journalist. www.art4u.wales I thank you.

 

[Ranbay]

Hi I'm a local artist creating a unique art series of Cardiff pubs - past & present. Please take a look at my site for the ones I have done so far; I'm looking for stories and memories for an article I hope to do soon with a local journalist. www.art4u.wales I thank you.

How much to paint my dog in the Claude playing pool? or cards?

 

[Pablo121]

Happy Birthday Mate !

Andy Franklin is a legend - Happy Hippo Days

 

[Pablo121]

Shit... just joined the FB group for the Hippo club - listening to Josh Winks and wishing I could rewind the clock or go back in time for just one night. Truly brilliant times.

Those were the days - I remember just when the police raided on horse back and Barry boys rammed doors with an escort van! Best place ever

 

[Ranbay]

Those were the days - I remember just when the police raided on horse back and Barry boys rammed doors with an escort van! Best place ever

I recall them two nights, the police one i was sat at home

The other one was not good!

 

[Pablo121]

I recall them two nights, the police one i was sat at home

The other one was not good!

The other was chaos - my favourite night l turned up dressed in Arab outfit with a Star Wars light
Saber and took over Shane's decks! Happy Days!

 

[Ranbay]

The other was chaos - my favourite night l turned up dressed in Arab outfit with a Star Wars light
Saber and took over Shane's decks! Happy Days!

if you ever used the mirror in the booth you know me

 

[Pablo121]

if you ever used the mirror in the booth you know me

Used lots of mirrors over the years and the fire exit was always helpful!

 

[Ranbay]

The Hippo Club in Cardiff, A Nation for All, Wales in the Nineties - BBC One



Meady skanked me for 10 pills one night, went back the week after and he said sorry about last week, i was having a bad night

 

[phoenixlily]

Anyone remember the Emporium? Been trying to find info about it online but info is so scarce ...

 

[Supine]

Anyone remember the Emporium? Been trying to find info about it online but info is so scarce ...

I do. I'd have thought there was online info somewhere, it was quite popular

 

[nogojones]

Anyone remember the Emporium? Been trying to find info about it online but info is so scarce ...

It ran for years, so we remember (and sometimes don't remember) it well. It was the Loop before they claimed to do it out as the Emporium.

 

[phoenixlily]

I do. I'd have thought there was online info somewhere, it was quite popular

There used to be loads of stuff posted online in the "early days" of the internet, but most of the clubbing sites that had content are all gone!

Have been doing a lot of Googling and only very minimal returns ...

 

[ddraig]

as much as i hate giving WoL clicks
23 legendary Cardiff nightclubs from the 1990s that aren't there now

 

[nogojones]

as much as i hate giving WoL clicks
23 legendary Cardiff nightclubs from the 1990s that aren't there now

Half of them weren't clubs and most of them were shit. Never go clubbing with a WOL reporter!

 

[Supine]

terrible list

 

[editor]

as much as i hate giving WoL clicks
23 legendary Cardiff nightclubs from the 1990s that aren't there now

WoL is a fucking terrible clickbaiting travesty of a 'paper.'

 

[ddraig]

Yup it is
And getting worse

 

[Richard F]

Top Rank editor? Are you that old?

I was a regular at The Studio, the club that replaced Top Rank (PJs replaced the Studio). Had a lifetime VIP card. Then they went and closed so that card lied, it wasn't for my whole lifetime at all

Had to make do with CoCo Savanas, the Dog and Duck and the Toucan Club.

I'd forgotten about the Square Club. Those stairs were treacherous when wet. Get 4 rounds in before licensing hours ended @ 2am... but carry on partying till 6am as it didn't shut, just stopped serving.

The Dog and Duck served till 4am illegally till they got caught and closed down

Top Rank was 'Ritzys' before it became 'Studio'.
I worked at Studio and Panama Joes (Pj's).

 

[Richard F]

I remember there used to be a great Iranian cafe in the shop next to Gassy Jacks in the early '80s. I think it was called The Oasis. Used to love sampling a few Persian delicacies when Dad brought me to Cardiff to see something at The Sherman.

Anyone else remember "The Wine Press" on St. Mary Street? Pokey little place downstairs (under Porto's). Friend of mine used to DJ there. Bit of a dive, but plenty of fun!

I remember the Wine press.

 

[Richard F]

Coco's was the first place I ever went clubbing. The pasadenas were performing the same night :/ I think I drank babycham and lager, snogged a medical student and and then puked.

I briefly went out with a girl that worked behind the bar at Coco Savannahs in the late 80s.

 

[Richard F]

Chicagos on St. Mary street anyone?
Used to love that place.
Also Fat Sams and the Lodge in Sophia Gardens.

 

[ddraig]

Loads of pics from the 80's with more to come
Goths
Neros etc
The amazing pictures from '80s alternative clubs in Cardiff

 

[editor]

Montys!

 

[Ras Malai Bait]

 

[editor]

Oozing class

 

[ddraig]

A treasure trove of Cardiff gig info Cardiff Music History

 

[Ralph Llama]

anyone remember the squat parties we threw? Bout ten years back now.... Cardiff didnt know what had hit it ... fat multiriggers

my only experience of clubs there was them turning up at the free parties trying to swing weight lol