Back to index of Nerve 14 - Summer 2009

The Changing Club Scene of Liverpool 8

Today visitors to the Liverpool 8/Toxteth area would see very little evidence of a once vibrant social community. The venues of the past have largely disappeared and where once people danced, listened to live music and drank until the early hours there can now be found in their place empty derelict buildings, apartments or vacant plots.

By Donna Palmer

Liverpool 8 through the 1950s and 1960s had the highest number of clubs in Merseyside. There were over 20 clubs in the area, each offering something unique to its clientele. Local groups and singers would take to the stage and offer their own take on the ‘Mersey Beat’ sound. Some clubs laid on ‘exotic’ entertainment, whereby female artistes would dance in various stages of dress (some of whom like the Gladrays’ ‘Gloria’ have achieved an almost legendary status).

It was a period of economic growth and ships from the Commonwealth were regular visitors to the port. The clubs were often set up by immigrant seamen who found themselves unwelcome at ‘white’ clubs and dance halls, and so opened their own places to socialise in the area where a black community had already been established in Liverpool 8.

Originally they were places which offered support and services to seamen such as lodging advice, and somewhere they could find familiar food and music. The names of these places often stated their roots. On Princes Avenue/Road could be found the Sierra Leone, The Silver Sands and The Federal. On Parliament Street there was The Nigeria and The Somali Club to name but a few.

The clubs were open to all nations and this mix of people exchanged musical styles and sounds. People would travel from all over the North West to Liverpool 8 to engage in the thriving scene.

Not all of the clubs had licences and would open from when the owner liked and close when they decided. The majority of these clubs were dark places where daylight never entered and where one could lose all sense of time (which was probably one of the main attractions).

The 1970s and 1980s saw the demise of the L8 club scene. The very things that they offered that no other places did, like alcohol and exotic dancers in the daytime and late night drinking hours most days of the week, became commonplace elsewhere around the city as licensing hours changed.

Economically the Port of Liverpool was in decline and ships from the Commonwealth no longer came. The clubs that relied on the visits of the seamen saw income fall and shut their doors.

Population de-centralisation and ‘slum’ clearance programmes resulted in large parts of Liverpool 8 being redeveloped. Terraced housing was demolished and replaced with high-rise flats and tenement buildings. People were moved out of the area and relocated to new build estates with names like Kirkby and Cantril Farm.

The 1981 riots did not enhance the reputation of the area that was now being called Toxteth, and insurance premiums for businesses skyrocketed, as did the emergence of steel shutters on shop windows.

The few remaining clubs attracted police attention because of unauthorised late night openings, and police raids on premises increased, as did their objections to liquor and entertainment licences being issued.

By the early 90s The Nigerian, The Ibo (now relocated into the former school for the deaf) and the Sierra Leone were all that was left of the Liverpool 8 club scene.

Today, The Nigerian, or to call it by its proper name, The Nigeria, is the only club that survives from the 1960s, though it is not open as a nightclub due to problems with noise complaints, as buildings either side of it were bought up and developed into apartments.

The only open licensed club in Liverpool 8 is the Caribbean Centre, a purpose built community centre, itself built upon the former terraced housing of Amberley Street. The Caribbean is surviving not so much by the custom coming through the doors, domino teams, Independence dances etc, but more with the help of Liverpool City Council grants, and as the ‘credit crunch’ bites one wonders how long its survival is guaranteed.

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Comments:

Comment left by Phill Neal on 8th July, 2009 at 15:09
Is the Gladray Club still going and does anybody remember Gloria there. She was once very kind to me when she took me o not once but twice to Lime Street station as I had to get back the next morning to open a shop. I was up in Liverpool to see the laying up of the colours of the training ship HMS Conway in the early 70,s. On every visit I have been to Liverpool I have always been shown kindness. Thank you

Comment left by Dom Duncan on 21st November, 2009 at 6:25
have great memorioes of The Ibo, the Nige, the Sierra Leone in the late 80's - rocking reggae places. We were white kids at Uni, and loved it - great vibe - never any hassle. Miss those days a lot. Big up the Nolan posse, Lark Lane massive. peace. DD, Auckland, NZ

Comment left by steve on 9th February, 2010 at 23:24
Yeah had great times in the Silver Sands, Ibo, Sierra and the Somali, where you could listen to great music downstairs and get an egg curry upstairs. I was a white, Uni kid as well 19/20 years old. I remember Linton Kwezi Johnson, Michael Jackson (Off the Wall), great reggae and off course all the great punk stuff Clash, Siouxie etc

Comment left by Segun on 8th March, 2010 at 6:57
I came searching because I have been preparing a return to L8 since the departing in the early 90s. Was looking forward to the Ibo, The Nigerian and Serra Leone again. Sad! What now in L8?

Comment left by vic on 9th April, 2010 at 21:26
I was a foreign student in Liverpool in the mid seventies and used to go to Gladray's pretty regularly. There were Gladys, Rachel, an Asian gentleman who was, I think, either Gladys's or Rachel's husband, and also young John... There was Betty, the waitress, and of course the spicy chicken on Friday afternoons... There was "Black Shadow" who sold cheap jewelry and sang Johnny Nash songs with the juke box and always over shadowed the machine... The kindest people ever... and there was, of course, Gloria... She wouldn't accept more than two drinks from me since I was a student... Always very interesting chat with her... She went to live and work in Amsterdam for a while and I heard from a friend that when Liverpool FC were playing a preseason friendly in Amsterdam, Gloria went to their hotel and invited the whole team to go to the club she worked in after the game... She reserved the club for that night, all expenses on her, but of course no one went, for which she was pretty annoyed... Great place, Liverpool... Thanks for the wonderful memories... The kindest people, Scousers...

Comment left by Dunc on 22nd June, 2010 at 13:56
I visited the Sierra Leone club about 1987 and it's a shame the place has gone. It was really hot, really loud and pitch dark downstairs. My Nigerian friend had to argue with the door guys for some time to get me in, but it was so different to the other places where I usually went as a student.

Comment left by antoine phillipe on 25th August, 2010 at 19:31
Does the author of this article actually know L8? The scene went on for a lot longer than she claims and continues today in people's homes.

Comment left by RJMM on 29th October, 2010 at 15:45
I was a Liverpool University student in the mid 70s and remember Liverpool 8 well. Used to have a flat in Hartington Road after I moved out of student halls. I loved liverpool and its genuinely friendly people so much so I continued to live there for the next 25 years. Lots of friends there and had a happy time except for the fact that as a student I was skint, especially during the oil crisis inflationary period of 1974 and 75. I consider the city my second home and although I now life near London I really miss it and visit often. I also wade in to defend Liverpool and scousers when their reputation is sullied by ignorant southerners. Remember going to The Gladray with a mate, and after the shadowy figures on the door let me in and I got accustomed to the gloom inside, the music and food, the general crack was fantastic. Remember seeing Gloria on stage performing with a white python (does anyone remember?) and a tall black guy called 'The Shadow' going round all the tables and opening his overcoat to reveal rows of watches for sale. Great venue, really friendly people of all races in there, good cheap food and brilliant live music. Even met a nice girl in there too! Happy days....such a shame it is gone. The Somalia used to be good too........had a great reputation for its food.

Comment left by niger on 4th November, 2010 at 13:35
some of my best years were spent in liverpool 8 and are inprinted in my mind even now from the 60s and 70s hope to visit there soon stanley house learnt to play snooker and table tennis

Comment left by niger on 4th November, 2010 at 23:40
extra comment yes it the people of the time what made liverpool 8 and the clubs great i always felt a safe spirit back then in the 60s 70s and the food was good to

Comment left by niger on 18th November, 2010 at 16:30
just to say hello to all the people in liverpool 8 and every one from there and anyone who as ever lived there long live your best times in your mind i am visiting there next year for old time sake i know it wont ever be the same as it was but its the same world wide now every thing gone mad all the best niger

Comment left by Laura on 10th August, 2012 at 4:24
I used to live between the Ibo and the Silver Sands. Never a dull moment ... Fond memories.

Comment left by Peter Griffin on 25th October, 2013 at 16:54
I lived in Liverpool for 20 years. What a great city and what great people. I lived in Toxteth near Princes Park but firstly I had a bedsit in Newstead Rd off Smithdown. The wind howled through the gaps between the window frames and the brickwork. Close to nature. The Somali restuarant was truly great for food. I remember they has a very very small list from which to choose and it was always the same. Included large meat and small meat curry and egg curry and the cashumba salad that came with it. It was really the tastiest food in Liverpool. Served up by lovely men and cheap enough for me to afford I think that the Somali was also the Somali consulate though that might not be right. I do know that an old friend of mine Shiela Coleman was asked by the clergyman attached to her son Emiles school if she had a place of worship and that she almost answered The Somali Club. The Somali is a legend.

Comment left by Eddie on 4th May, 2014 at 7:58
The Gladray was named after Gladys and her hubbie Ray. If you wore a tie they'd cut it off ans pin it up. I remember daughter Collette too.

Comment left by Moe on 28th January, 2015 at 4:00
My recollection of the Gladray was lots of people dancing and enjoying them selves.Tom Jones picture on the wall and a small dance floor, usually packed on a Saturday night with all different kinds of people. Gone are those days, but never forgotten. Loved Stanley House also, nice place to go after tea; until about 9:00pm.. I don't think it is even there now.

Comment left by Jim Unsworth on 18th March, 2015 at 9:53
I spent many years going to the Gladray, used to revel in the place, the great characters, like Gloria,Shadow, John(behind the bar). It was like the UNITED NATIONS,but sold ale! I loved the madness! As a Scouser the Gladray will always have a place in my heart.Its part of our heritage.

Comment left by Victoria Barton on 28th July, 2015 at 9:18
Hi I was wondering if anyone remember the pub on lodge lane Liverpool 8 it was called the Harrington Arms. I can't find any trace of it online. It was my grandads pub in the 1970's and I have great childhood memories of this pub.

Comment left by ste on 25th August, 2015 at 23:43
My grandad used to be on the committee and work on the door of the gladray, his name was Rufus, does anyone remember him? He was a wonderful man, I'd love to hear some stories?

Comment left by Susan Eyo on 31st August, 2015 at 23:51
Hi Does anyone know if Liverpool 8 ever had a jazz scene back in the day, or if any clubs played live jazz or jazz music. Many thanks

Comment left by Susan Eyo on 31st August, 2015 at 23:53
Hi Does anyone know if Liverpool 8 has ever had its own jazz scene, or if any of the clubs back in the day ever had live jazz. Thanks

Comment left by michelle on 15th March, 2016 at 8:34
Anyone remember The Embassy club? Owned by Roy Stevens? Would like to hear any information and memories

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