: Hits: 15080

Blighty's ex-Monaco (Farnworth)

Blighty's was in Church Street, Farnworth near Bolton, Lancashire.

The club was owned by Ken Naylor (b. Kenneth Naylor, 1927 d. Friday, October 10, 2014) who also owned The Empire Cabaret Club, Dale Street, Milnrow, Lancashire; The Ritz Theatre Bar, Oldham, Lancashire; The Ritz Theatre, Brighouse, West Yorkshire and The Candlelight Club (formerly The Savoy Ballroom), New Radcliffe Street, Oldham, Lancashire.

The venue was split into two floors by a huge sprawling staircase.

John H. Warburg 20 October 2022

Can't understand why "Blightys Club" which was located in Farnworth is not listed? This was probably the biggest Cabaret Club in the country in the early 70's.

Tom Casey - 7/2/11

Does anyone remember Carol Cottam? She went in this club in the 70s and met a man called Ian Hamilton fron Irlam in 1977? Would love to get in contact with him if anyone can help!! My email is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or if anyone has information on him thanks.

Kerry Henry - 1/4/11

Blighty's was one of my favourite venues. Graham Warner was the manager then when I worked it. He also doubled as a musician in the band at times. Which was a 7-8 piece. I used to top the bill there on the "Spanish nights" because I think I was the only singer that could do a full Spanish spot. Aaaaah ! great memories.

Blighty's is now a small housing estate. Sob.

Tony Garcia  - 18/2/13

Before it was Blighty's, it was the Monaco Club and was always packed at weekends. We went to see The Answers play there. Tom Casey was a real good drummer and Dennis Shuttleworth a fab guitarist. It was the best club outside Manchester city centre. It seemed to go more for a variety club feel when it changed to Blighty's. That's when I moved on to proper music venues.

Sandra Olive - 22/5/13

I was stage manager @ Blightys in the early 70's for a couple of years when Gerry Slinger was manager (& his wife was THE BOSS). 1st nite Bob Monkhouse was top of the bill. More acts: the Four Tops, 3 Degrees, Tommy Cooper, Bruce Forsyth (when he was in his 60's!) an all-star jazz group - Art Blakey, Dizzy Gizzespie, Theloneus Monk, Kai Winding, Charles Mingus. LOADS more. 3-day week killed it.

Some great nites there. Days less so, cleaning bogs!

Tim Bayliss - 2/9/13

I worked there and Dougie Flood was one of the owners. He retired to Tenerife in the 70's - hope he is still around, he was a nice man. Last time I worked there, Frank Ifield was topping the bill, long time ago.

Tony Dowling - 2/9/13

Worked Blightys many times and even before when it was the Club Monaco, owned by Ken Naylor who also had the EMPIRE CABARET CLUB in Milnrow; Ritz Theatre Bar in Oldham; Ritz Club in Brighouse and Candlelight Club (formerly Savoy Ballroom) in Oldham, who booked me for all his venues alongside Matt Monro, Tommy Hunt, etc.,etc., and I later went out with his daughter, Kathy Anders from Rochdale, who became Miss England and Miss UK.

After I won the Singer of the Year award at the Broadway Club in 1971 (Norman Collier won the Comedian award and Black Abbotts the group), Dougie Flood opened a sister club in Farnworth called Blightys and Gerry Slinger the manager booked me all the time supporting Showwaddywaddy, Jack Jones etc., and The 3 Degrees, who came out of their dressing room wearing long, one piece, Mermaid style fawn dresses which were completely transparent and left absolutely nothing to the imagination, just as I came offstage! Never been the same since!!

Neither were the 3 guys sitting on the front table who fainted with excitement when they were introduced by Mort Allen the compere with the band called John Browns Bodies who had played at the Broadway Club. True story! Pics on my site paulstevensentertains.info

Also, I did know Ian Hamilton.

Paul Stevens - 5/9/13

When I was s.m. there (posh job description for what it was!) Dougie Flood had another club on Rochdale Rd (Talk Of The North?) & Gerry Slinger was boss of Blighty's (& both, later Copperfields in Bolton). Gerry's wife Winnie was more bossy than the boss. Maybe she held the purse strings?

Tim Bayliss - 5/9/13

Always a great night out. Tommy Cooper had the audience in hysterics before he said a word. Showaddywaddy were absolutely brilliant, especially with the smoke rising during ‘Johnny Remember Me’.

David Brown - 20/10/13

The Four Tops at Blighty's Farnworth Bolton 1972

Phil Middleton

Can anyone remember what the club was called before it became the Monaco ?

Kath Scott

Jeff Reeves died in the 90s. he was at the time being looked after by Foo Foo Lamar at his house in Alkrington during his illness. Doug Flood would send him a wage every week until his death. I used to deliver it.

Des Byrne

Does anyone remember the Dj upstairs in the disco? His name was something like Jeff Bloom?

Liz

Met my wife, Lesley, there on Friday 13th October 1972.

Bernard