Nearly 50 years after its closure, one lost Liverpool nightclub is still part of many fond memories from clubbers who passed through its doors.
The Liverpool ECHO recently took a look back at The Mardi Gras, which opened on September 28, 1957. Inside, the walls were decorated with Beat City murals by Liverpool artist Bob Percival and at one point, the Mount Pleasant club was used for location shots in a Rank feature film in 1964.
The Beatles, the Big Three, Gerry and the Pacemakers and Cilla Black are also said to have gone there, as well as some of the biggest acts in jazz, beat, soul and rock music. But today, nothing remains of Liverpool’s Mardi Gras.
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Originally a church, the building was demolished in the 1970s. All that lives on for the legendary club is rare photos and fond memories from those who went there.
Liverpool ECHO has since been sharing their memories from nights at 'The Mardi.' On our Facebook page, Maureen Rose Thompson Ventre said: "I loved the Mardi I went Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday with my mates Maddy and Alice best club ever x."
James Owen said: "Used to go most Saturdays and flit between this and the Victoriana as all the Motown groups used to do a turn in each club on the same night. Also went to the top rank suite only allowed in our suit and tie, good times."
Lynne Cassidy posted: "Def not posh, but fantastic atmosphere! Lots of soul and Tamla, but also rock bands. I saw Ike and Tina Turner and Thin Lizzy there. Fab memories." Edith Evans wrote: "Met my husband there in 1959. Still have my 1962 membership card. Great club, great memories."
Bill Cardwell wrote: "Loved the UV lights , everyone looked great with the blue effect, remember seeing the showstoppers there, best club ever." Linda Roberts said: " I remember those days! Loved the Mardi we never stopped dancing and great groups especially The Escorts it wasn’t posh just fantastic atmosphere great memories."
Steve Cairns said: "The Mardi was my club of choice, loved that club. Sad day for me and my mates when it closed." Alan Davis commented: "Seen the drifters there n 1974 great club in its day."
Marie Shields posted: "Loved the Mardi, seen some great Motown acts there." Margaret Nelson commented: "Many a great night there."
Ann Goodspeed posted: "Friday and Sunday nights at the Mardi Gras. Saturday night at the Beachcomber." Julianne Dunwoody posted: "That’s where my mum and dad met 56 years ago and have been married for 55 of those years xx."
Barbara Corless commented: "Always went to the Mardi with my lifelong friends had a ball especially the all nighters." David Workman wrote: "I remember Kenny Ball playing there in the 60's."
Pat Howells said: "Loved there, remember going there on a first date, great days." Lynne Bell said: "Loved the Mardi. Music was always great, lots of Tamla and soul. Usually went Tuesdays and Sundays. Very happy memories of my friend Janet."
Sandra Hendry commented: "Loved the Mardi seen Thin Lizzy, Genesis, Status Quo and many more best in town!!!!!." Sid Arslanian said: "One of Liverpool's best ever clubs."
Noreen Kelly wrote: "Absolutely loved the mardi!." And Sue Hendry posted: "It was one of The places to go."
Do you remember the Mardi Gras? Let us know in the comments section below.
Known to many as "the Mardi," the club was a refurbished movie theatre and played an important role in the development of Liverpool's music scene. The Mardi was opened by Jimmy Ireland and Stan Roberts.
Beginning as a jazz venue, it attracted a number of known and local jazz bands. The site is said to have had a licensed bar, located at the back of the grand balcony, overlooking the dance floor and could hold 900 people.
In 1969, Billy Butler and his business partner Chris Wharton, a pop promoter and manager, acquired the lease from Stan Roberts.
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Returning to the old site in 2007, he told the ECHO: "We were the first progressive club that Liverpool had. We had students upstairs, who were using liquid oils to project stuff on the walls. Then we were told by the council that the club would have to come down because the M62 was supposedly going to come straight into Liverpool, which it never did.
"We closed after an all-night session with Thin Lizzy and Nazareth. They paid for themselves with what they drank.
"It started as a jazz club, then there would be one jazz group and one beat group. Eventually it went completely beat, using groups from Jimmy Ireland’s own stable. Cy Tucker and Earl Preston were regulars.
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"You went up two flights of stairs and there was a little pay box. The amplifier and the PA equipment was on your right, the desk on your left.
"As soon as you went in, the stage was on your left and it was a big stage with the dressing-room attached to it. Then on either side of the stage there was a flight of stairs going up to the balcony. It was very posh.
"The Mardi has some really happy memories. I met some incredible people there."
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