Lost nightclub on top of car park where ‘many a good band’ played

A lost Liverpool nightclub that was once perched on top of a multi-storey car park saw “many a good band” play there in the 80s. Back in 1969, St John’s Shopping Centre first opened in the city centre and in same year, a site that would become a big destination for clubbers also opened in the precinct. Top Rank was a chain of nightclubs across the country owned by the Rank Organisation that attracted tonnes of clubbers from across Merseyside.

Often known as Top Rank Suites or Top Rank Ballrooms, the glitzy night spot and conference venue opened in time for But the site’s life as Top Rank was short lived, as from the 1970s onwards, it would become known under a number of different names. Eventually, the club became part of the Baileys like many of the other To Rank’s across the country. And in later years, the site was reborn as the likes of Romeos and Juliet’s, Studio 54 – and Rotters.

Another club chain that had sites in other big cities such as Manchester, Rotters came on to the Liverpool scene at the end of the decade. On October 11, 1979, an advertisement in the said Leisure 2000 were to shortly open “Merseyside’s largest disco operation,” requiring staff like door supervisors, cloakroom attendants, box office cashiers, glass collectors and more. vid music fan Gary Shelley from Birkenhead shared his memories of Rotters in the city.

He previously said: “The bigger bands would play either the Mountford Hall, Royal Court, Empire and, for a time, Rotters nightclub. I had a ticket to watch the Ramones at Rotters on Bank Holiday Monday August 25, 1980. “The band decided to play Top of the Pops instead so it was rescheduled to October 6, 1980.

This was the night after I went to see the Skids play Rotters. “Rotters had a balcony and we decided to watch the gig from there and were sitting behind Joey Ramone. The following night it was the Ramones’ turn, and on the Rotters balcony Joey Ramone’s place was taken by Stuart Adamson from the Skids.

“Of that night I remember the leather jackets, the sheer volume, and really poor sound – but it didn’t matter – I was there, I was under age and still got in with my youthful looks! What a result. As the rain lashed down outside I managed to peel the poster advertising the gig off the outside wall of Rotters and it is still advertising the original date. ” Today, rare photos, advertisements and gig tickets help keep Rotters memory alive.

In an ECHO advertisement from October 19, 1980, Porterhouse Promotions presented a UB40 gig at Rotters on October 20 that year. Advance tickets were £3 and £2. 50 with a dole card – but many will remember attending this event and others like it, often seeing performers that would go on to have international success.

Images, courtesy of our archives Mirrorpix, also offer a glimpse into the early days of Rotters. Two images, taken on March 20, 1980, shows the world champagne fountain at the Liverpool nightclub, with more than 700 glasses topped up with 14 gallons of champagne smashing a previous record. Pictured is employee Alex Gee topping up the fountain.

On our Liverpool memories and history Facebook group, we previously asked for readers memories of Rotters. Carol Neely said: “Remember going to see Flintlock perform there. ” Ann Bunting said: “It was a regular Thursday night out for us under-age school kids.

You could get a bundle of free tickets if you said it was your birthday, I’m sure they didn’t ID check. We also used to go on a bus with the 6th form social club from Maghull. I think we maybe paid a pound or something for the bus and free entry, on a school night!” And Dennis Hepworth commented: “Rotters was brilliant.

A huge place on three levels, if I remember rightly, with a second club inside catering for the New- Wave and New- Romantic crowd. Many a good band also played here, including my fave, The Specials. For some reason, maybe the cost, but we only ever drank blackcurrant and vodka in this gaff.

” On April 21, 1983, the ECHO reported how Rotters nightclub in Liverpool was up for sale at £100,000. Four years after opening Rotters closed, “blaming competition from the increasing number of discotheques and clubs in the city. ” Earlier that year, financial pressure became too much and the receivers were called in.

And by April 1995, the top night spot where a generation of Merseysiders danced the night away bit the dust. At the time, the ECHO reported how the large ballroom had been empty for years and efforts by the owners to generate commercial interest in the building failed. But many still have fond memories of nights Rotters and the clubs that also once called the site home.

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