There was a time when New Brighton was as well known for its nightlife as for its golden sands.
The seaside town remains a family favourite for days out in the summer. But the town once featured a collection of vibrant nightclubs that attracted a different crowd.
Clubs like The Witches Cauldron, Chelsea Reach and RJ's now seem to belong to another world, when punters danced until 3am and then headed to Reggie's for a mixed grill.
In 2019 the ECHO chatted to locals about their magic memories of New Brighton's scene.
Chelsea Reach
The popular nightclub opened in 1971 and was named in honour of Chelsea Reach in London.
It was owned by John Chase and and the last owner of the original Cavern, Roy Adams.
The building was later transformed into apartments and is now known as Pier House.
Speaking to the ECHO Jo Smith said: "Bobby's bar or the Chelsea to warm up then RJs afterwards.
"Seeing the sweat dripping off the walls and windows upstairs in RJs.
Them were the days. Wrapping it up nicely with a mixed grill from Reggie's at 3am!"
Julie Parry said: "I remember going to the Chelsea early in the evening and then running along the prom to the Guinea before you had to pay on the door.
"Every penny counted as a student at Withers Lane."
Yvonne Hope-Bernhardt added: "I used to live each weekend in the Chelsea Reach in the 1970s, absolutely fab."
RJs/The Golden Guinea
The nightclub changed many names over the years, from The Golden Guinea to RJs.
Owners of The Golden Guinea sold the club in 1985 and RJs opened in the basement in 1986 as an early evening venue.
By the summer of 1988 the whole club was renamed RJs with three floors.
The Master Mariner Wetherspoon's now occupies the building.
Telling the ECHO of his time at the club, Neil Hall said: "Use to go to RJs but was called The Golden Guinea then had three floors for different music we used to go in the basement disco, which had those ultra violet lights.
"My mum had turned my beige flares up and all the stitching showed up white, excellent down New Brighton in the 70s."
Alison Howes added: "RJs would have beach party nights where they would put sand on the floor.
"The same people would go out to the clubs in set nights - Chelsea on Tuesday, RJs on a Friday/Sunday, Grand on Saturday.
"The atmosphere would be fantastic, friendly and has never been repeated anywhere.
"There was no violence, no worrying about being attacked - everyone looked after each other. As the pubs weren’t open all day, we used to go to an inn on the prom called Hollywood’s above the fair."
The Witches Cauldron
The Witches Cauldron was a small basement club on the corner of Albion Street alongside the Victoria Hotel.
It was opened in 1962 by Clive Kellly who also opened the CubiKlub in Conway Street, Birkenhead.
It is claimed the ceiling was made to look like rock, giving the feeling of going into a cavern.
The Hotel Victoria was demolished in 2006 and replaced with an apartment block with a small housing development where the entrance to the club used to be.
Telling the ECHO of her time in the club, Jenny Cartmill said: "There were three very dark rooms.
"Room one was where the group played with dancing. Room two was a non-alcoholic bar.
"Room three was full of violet lights that showed up all your dandruff!
"It was owned by a milkman. When it closed after a number of years, he opened another club on Scotty Road."
Dave Carvey said : "I used to go regular to the Witches Cauldron under where the triangular grassed area was, where the Hotel Victoria was.
"That was late 60s. There used to be a guy there who was the spit of the guy from Freddie and the Dreamers."
ECHO readers also shared their memories of other New Brighton clubs.
Ruth Warren told the ECHO about her time at the Empress, where she met her late husband. She said: "My friend Janet and me used to travel from Liverpool on a Saturday and go to the clubs in New Brighton especially the Empress club where I met my late husband.
"Then in the 70s, when we moved back to England and bought a house in Wallasey, we would go to the Penny Farthing as we knew the owners.
"Some great memories of clubs in New Brighton."
