A nightclub where many had a mutual understanding of 'what happened there, stayed there', is symbolic to locals as the "good old days".
The Tavern, known to Wirral locals as The Tav, was a "hugely popular" nightclub that once sat in New Brighton.
Starting its life as St James' School in the 1840s, the small building was later converted into a club, opening its doors as The Tavern in 1960’s.
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Over five decades later, the club s hut its doors for the last time following a series of complications which meant it was no longer possible for it to serve the people of Wirral anymore.
While the building may no longer stand, the memories of the popular venue live on among residents and former owner Steve Cooley who says he “seriously misses” the days of The Tav.
Steve, who ran the club between 1999 up until the day it closed in 2015, says its success and popularity was owed to the people who walked through the doors and the staff who were “good people”.
Having spent time there as a “punter” himself, Steve described The Tav as “comfortable” and believes that is why it was loved by the local people.
He told the ECHO: “I remember when Jim Haydock, who used to own it - I was in the bar as a punter one day and I joked with him saying ‘you’re getting too old for this place'.
“A couple weeks later he brought it back up and put the idea to me. I had no experience. I think I spent about a month with him and we got on famously and then I bought it from him.”
By 2003 Steve said the New Brighton venue was “top of the trade”, with queues that would more often than not extend beyond Magazine Way, “way past the bakers”.
Steve added: “The people would come to feel safe and I think that’s something that set us apart. They'd enjoy the club for what it was, enjoy a drink and a dance with so many different groups of people.”
While Steve admits he loved and misses his time owning The Tav, selecting one memory from his time was a difficult task due to his whole experience being “great”.
Steve, who grew up in Egremont, said: “The place had its niche. It stood out and it was different from the majority.
“It has a different quality about it and I think that’s what made it a very popular disco, not just for young people but even for the families.
“You’d have sons meeting daughters before meeting with their dads and meeting up with mum and nans and grandads because that was the kind of club it was - not like any others.”
Throughout its years The Tav was faced with a number of challenges, two of its biggest being the ban of smoking indoors and a shift in opening times which they could not accommodate.
Steve, 65, said: “The no smoking thing really didn't help us, we created a smoking area outside but that was a difficult time.
“Then when clubs in Birkenhead and New Brighton were opening later and people were starting to go out later, that hurt us.
“Unless we were prepared to extend opening hours then we struggled to compete. We were in a gated-like area with neighbours so there was no chance we would do that, so we stuck with our 2am closing time.
“We took the knock a few times, eventually that closed us.”
Despite the “sadness” he felt the day he closed the door for the final time, Steve thrives in the fact that he was able to experience his ownership alongside the same team of staff he opened the doors with in 1999.
He said he never lost an original staff member in over five decades and owes that to the atmosphere of the club.
From ‘Old Ron’, who would go and play pool on a Saturday, to ‘Doorman Ronnie’ whose ability to deal with difficult situations would often leave staff “crying with laughter”, Steve said The Tav will forever hold fond memories for him.
He added: “I miss the people, I miss the staff, I miss the public.
“I used to go there before I owned it; I loved the place that much I bought it.
“I used to watch the girls on the bar setting up the shots and then watch the reactions of people taking them and ask ‘why did I do that?’.
“I miss that time.”
It is not only its former owner who still regularly reflects on the “good old days” of The Tav.
Neil Jones said: “What happened in The Tav stayed in The Tav!”, which was further echoed by Julie Pilling who added: "Getting anyone to tell you what they got up to in there might be a problem!"
Pauline Jones said: "Had many a good night at the Tavern. Even had my hen night there in 1983.
"What was the stage name of the singer - Pauline? Boy, could she belt out Alexander's Rag Time Band!"
Jacquie Hall had many fond memories of The Tav: "Shakin’ Dave the DJ in his polyester shirts. Carpet with a sticky layer of beer and tab ends on top, once red and gold. Silver and gold lametta backdrop curtains.
"Bloody loved my nights at The Tavern with mates. No one ever asked your age and there was never any trouble in the early 80’s."
Lynne McDonald added: "The Tav was the end game of a very messy pub crawl from Liscard along Rake Lane - the Holy Grail.
"I loved it. What I wouldn’t give to do the Slum run one more Friday night and end up there."
