Beachcomber (Bolton)

On Thursday, December 29, 1963 The Beachcomber Club opened in Bank Street, Bolton, Lancashire. This club had been called The Beachcomber Coffee Club (opened in Aug 1962).

The Beachcombers Coffee Club had been opened by local entrepreneurs Norman Clements (b. 1936), Eddie Grindrod (b. Edward Grindrod, 1937) and Eric Eckersley (b. 1936). People went into the brightly lit foyer through double doors and into the main section of the club which was decorated like a smugglers' den.

At the time 28-year-old Clements lived at 12 Henrietta Street, Bolton, 27-year-old Grindrod lived at 747 Chorley Old Road, Bolton and 28-year-old Eckersley at 22 Strawberry Hill Road, Bolton.

Grindrod grew up with his parents, Cyril Grindrod and Mrs. Margaret 'Peggy' Grindrod who ran pubs, including The Golden Lion in Bolton town Centre. It was while his parents were running The Golden Lion that Grindrod and his friends (who were all in their twenties at the time) came up with the idea of starting their own club. He was working at De Havilland in Horwich, Lancashire as an electrical engineer but realized there was something missing in Bolton town Centre for him and his friends.

The Bolton Palais De Dance in Bridge Street, Bolton (opened on Friday, October 19, 1928 as The Astoria Palais De Danse) was really the only dancing and music venue worth going to, but it did not really cater for the younger generation. There were some derelict buildings at the back of his parents' pub so the guy's, Grindrod, Clements and Eckersley decided to use them and open up their own club. They cleaned the floors, put an old bar in the corner and anyone going there, would get to the bar by using a door at the back of the pub. Word got round and the impromptu club attracted dozens of enthusiast people each week — keen to get involved in this fun venture. It was a sort of an 'illegal rave' of its day. The club's reputation was also growing. It was not just the ordinary young people of Bolton who enjoyed socializing at this make-shift venue but Bolton Wanderers footballers got to know about it including left-back Tommy Banks (1929 - 2024) (who played for England) and central defender John Higgins (1932 - 2005). Although it was only a very small room it was a buzzing place to go, but then the local police put paid to the enterprise and the club had to close.

 Not deterred, the three guys, Grindrod, Clements and Eckersley decided to open up what perhaps would be described as a more legal club in premises at 24 Bank Street. Grindrod mother's Mrs. Peggy Grindrod suggested the former shop premises, which had been used as a radio and television shop. The guy who owned Joe's Umbrellas next door said he'd heard the radio shop was closing and the guys went to have look. Although the shop premises on the ground floor were small there was access to an upstairs area that appeared perfect for the guys' plans. So, in August 1962 The Beachcomber opened with chairs bought for 50p each, tables borrowed from Grindrod parents' pub, plus a £200 loan from the bank and plenty of enthusiasm.

Info courtesy: John H Warburg September 2024

I went there with my first real girl friend Lynda. I was wearing my new green sweater with a white polo shirt underneath, a pair of deliciously faded Wranglers and Chukka boots.

When we bought tickets The Who weren't even in the charts so we paid only 6 bob for them. The place was packed with about 300 Mods and we managed to get right down near the stage. The Who had to fight their way through the crowd to the stage, led of course by Keith Moon who was wearing a white sweater with a Pop Art design created in insulation tape. Townsend had his Union Jacket on.

They were onstage barely half an hour but managed to smash most of the equipement in that time. At the moment when Daltrey stuttered "Why don't you all F-F-F-Fade Away" we didn't - we were at the very centre of it all and left with our ears ringing.

40 years on I can still relive it as though it were yesterday.

I saw The Moody Blues (with Denny Laine) who were late turning up. The word was the Beachcomber wasn't going to pay them but they played anyway for all the fans. A real piano, too! Great gig. That same year I saw Lulu and the Luvvers there. She recently visited Bolton again but not with the Luvvers, and the tickets at the Reebok Stadium were a little more than the six bob at the Beachcomber.

Bernard Wrigley Don't forget there was a Beachcomber in Preston, same company, this was the one I regularly frequented, easyer to get to for me, but went to Bolton a few times.

So many memories it's frightening. No safety regs. in place then. Stage in the cellar, together with coffee bar. Had to be a teatotal venue seeing we all were about sixteen. Had to clamour your way through two tunnels up to second level and then up a really narrow flight of stairs to the top floor.

Saw all the great groups there, but the best was Lulu. She was on the raised stage singing'Shout' whilst I was standing directing in front of her looking up at her knickers. Sad I know but I was only sixteen. (62 now). I'm preety certain that round this time a doorman was knifed and subsequently died whilst on duty at the club. Does anyone else remember this?

Could write a book about the place and my memories but it's getting late...Good Night 

I remember well The Beachcomber - Eddie Grindrod (owner), John (crewcut) head bouncer/manager, queing to get in in the rain, pretending to be 16 when only 14yrs 6 months, soft drinks and 5 bob in your pocket and best of all the pinball machine. I can still remember the model HEATWAVE !!!

Bell bottom jeans, dancing to early Beatles songs etc. Saw The Drifters there one time. What about the Boneyard? That was a motley club.

Anyway graduated to Manchester in 1966, the big city! Rowntrees Spring Gardens, Top of the Town, DiscoTakis, Rowntrees Sound, then Time and Place and Annabels, Twisted Wheel (both venues), Blinkers, etc.

The tax man can't confiscate memories.

re Beachcomber - I remember it before a dj was installed permanently. ps I saw the Rolling Stones at the Oasis Club before they had a first hit record. 

I remember "upstairs" being open daytimes during the week. Spent many a happy hour wagging in there . 

I think you'll find Allan when the doorman was killed it was the Cromwellian. A very sad occasion causing the club to close a bit later and change decor and name to the Playmate Club.

My husband knew the bouncer that was stabbed at the club - he was called Bobby Warren. It probably was a fire hazard but it was brill! This and Bury Palais is where all the tops groups were!

I remember seeing Hermans Hermits there quite a few times and some good local groups, Ian Dean and the Brystols were one of them, had some great nights there.

I used to bunk off school to go to the beachcomber (or the Boneyard) at lunchtime. Listening to Bob Dylan, Soul etc.

We used to meet up outside Prestons of Bolton and have a drink at the Swan hotel or Man & Scythe before going in to the Beachcomber. I met my (now) wife there. Our first house was next door to The Warren family and on the night of Bobby's death looked after his younger sister whilst his parents went to identifying him. The next day the press were all over us.

One early memory of the Beachcomber was seeing a group called 'The Warriors'. Great Beatles sound. The lead singer was Jon Anderton, later in Yes then Jon and Vangelis. Used to leave the club and my girlfriend and go on to the Twisted Wheel club in Manchester to the Saturday all-nighter Top soul venue, Alan Bown set, James and Bobby Purify etc. Plus loads of soul imports from the U.S.A..

We would meet at the Man & Scythe, and visit the Brass Cat (Golden Lion) and the Three Crowns, not to drink, just to check out who was where and who was out. Then down to the Beachcomber...my God, Health and Safety would have had a field day. Steep rickety steps down to tunnels packed with kids, usually Mods, trying to look cool.I remember Ian Dean and The Bristols and also two lads who danced together in the most amazing routines..I think they called themselves The Beach Boys(after the venue)maybe someone else can help with info. Everyone would stop to watch them...amazing dancers.

Stu Francis, the comedian, was a regular clubber...he was still at school then. Eddie Grindrod,the manager was usually on the door and was picky about who was let in. Everyone seemed to go home by the late trains then and Trinity Street station was packed with clubbers going home on trains all over the place..plenty of rowdy behaviour and punch ups as I recall...but it was absolutely the best time to be young!

I ADORED the Beachcomber. I went Every Friday night with my best friend Lorraine. Saturday, usually the Seven stars at Heywood with my boyfriend John and a group of friends. Sunday was Bolton Palais, again with Lorraine. I saw Long John Baldry at the 'Comber' as we called it. I was stood in front of him chewing gum when he suddenly stopped singing and told me to get that gum out of my mouth!

Happy days that I would to relive. Someone referred to the bouncer who was stabbed and died at the door. I wonder if it was still the Beachcomber then, as I had started work as a receptionist at the Palais and remember the his colleagues coming round to all the clubs collecting for his family and by then I had married and had my Daughter. Almost sure by that time it had become Maxwell's Plum. Not a patch on the old place.

Wow, just read the comments on the Beachcomber. What memories. I was there when the Who played, managed to get one of Keith Moons drum Stick. Wish I still had it. Cannot remember which night we used to go on. What a death trap it was, didn't think of that then, just too busy having a fab time. Up and down those rickety stairs we went. I remember the smelly loos that used to hang over the river croal. How great it was being young in the 60s. Palais (after a swift half in the Founders arms) on Monday, Thursday and Sundays. I worked for a while in the cloakrooms. The Navada, dancing, on a Saturday night.

I met my first real boyfriend, Barry, at the Beachcomber in Bolton in 1964 so have fond memories of it. He was so gorgeous with his smart Burtons suits and straight black hair that stood up slightly at the top of his head. A true mod! We used to go there once a week to see bands, dance and snog on a comfy couch in one of the top rooms. It was like a big house with lots of rooms with different atmospheres. One room was decorated with nets and shells and all sorts of things you might find on a beach. It was magical. The staircases were narrow - domestic scale - and a lot of people smoked! You could never get away with it these days, with all the fire regulations. The bands played in the basement, which was the biggest room - just roughly decorated, with a small stage in one corner.

As other people have said, there were some brilliant nights. I remember seeing Herman and the Hermits too.