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Poco-A-Poco (Stockport)

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The Poco-A-Poco was in Manchester Road, Heaton Chapel, north Stockport, Cheshire and opened on Tuesday, December 3, 1968.

Advertised in The Evening News and Chronicle of Friday, November 29, 1968 as
Poco A Poco Theatre Club Manchester Road, Stockport. Telephone HEA 3330/5814. Grand Opening Tuesday, December 3 Open 7 Nights New Show Each Sunday Star Attractions Frankie Howerd Winifred Attwell Kay Sisters Julie Rogers Kenny Ball
Xmas Bookings Now Being Taken Membership 10/- Gents, 5/- Ladies.

Advertised in The Evening News and Chronicle of Monday, December 2, 1968 as
Poco - A - Poco Brand New Concept In Clubs And Opening Tuesday, Dec. 3. The club was on the corner of Manchester Road and Denby Lane junction, Heaton Norris, Stockport.

Poco A Poco had started out as The Empress Cinema which had opened on Saturday, May 6, 1939 with 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' staring actor Leslie Howard. It closed on Saturday, April 18, 1959 with the last film, actor Jerry Lewis (1926 - 2017) film 'Rock A By Baby.'

On Saturday, December 12, 1959 it reopened as The Empress Cabaret Club using part of the old cinema and was opened by Manchester City football player and forward Keith Marsden (1934 - 1986).

The Empress Cabaret Club closed in May 1967 due to a fire and reopened on Tuesday, December 3, 1968 as Poco A Poco.

Poco A Poco closed in 1983 and became Chesters until May 1987 and then was demolished in June 1987 and became The Hinds Head Pub.  

info courtesy John H Warburg

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Anonymous
7 years ago
I was of the joiners that built  the poco poco before the it was the empress club.
Three joiners  that worked on the club .
I whent on working in the club at night on the lights along with tony.
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Anonymous
7 years ago
Quoting Anonymous:
I was one of the joiners that built  the poco poco before the it was the empress club.
Three joiners  that worked on the club .
I whent on working in the club at night on the lights along with tony.
Cheers john 
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John hibbert
5 months ago
I was one of the joiners .
I started later in the day on maintenance and evening working in the lighting box on light and sound ,I was on the big follow .with Tony.
Funky Howard show pluss many other shows .
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Matty
4 years ago
I use to be one of the chefs. Played cricket for charity with good old Vince Miller and Rodney Warr
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John hibbert
5 months ago
I was one of the joiners .
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Anonymous
7 years ago
hi all I remember the soul nites on a sunday and the dance offs , some great nights there and chicken n chips in a basket ,,,happy days , Manchester mozz 
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Ian Kinsey
5 years ago
I sang at the Poco many many times when Fred Shawcross was the compere, and very good he was at it.  He was also a fantastic drummer and a really nice person. He was always very appreciative of my music which at the time I was doing a lot of Jack Jones material as well as many of the popular stuff of the time. Not forgetting Vince Miller, also a great compere and again a lovely guy. I performed there Christmas of 1969 or 1970 when Alan Kay owned the Club, Alan came into my dressing room and asked if I would do one or two Christmas Carols with him on stage, within seconds all the artists that were performing there came on stage and it was a night I will never forget. Great Club, fantastic memories. Does anybody remember that night I wonder. 
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Linda Myers
5 years ago
I recall Fred and Vince Millar as I too sang there in the 70s as Linda Myers playing the trumpet ukulele. Do you remember Chunky? a small bald guy who helped out. I also met my then boyfriend Don Suddaby who joked his father was Karl Denver. I never saw him since and only know was a hairdresser when we split but would have liked to say hello again-as the song says. Those were happy days and Dennis Kelly became my pianist and for Tony Christie. He played for the BBC too with Dave Lenane and more. Regards to you Linda now go under Linda Angelis on my website-a long story.
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Ian Kinsey
5 years ago
Hello Linda, i remember you very well were on the same bill at the Poco and we worked several working mens clubs in Lancashire together. I think we also were on the same bill at the Talk of the North with Matt Monro who i became quite friendly with. A change of name that,s interesting, very pleased to hear your still performing obviously not at the moment, and if I may say you look good too.
Regards
Ian.
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John Hibbert
4 years ago
Chunky.
Was the electrition  ,he did all the electrical work when we was building the poco a poco .it was owned by Keith Marsden, ex manchester city player he bought when it was the empress club after the fire we built it and it was named the poco a poco club.
John hibbert 
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Kevin Elvis
2 years ago
Fire John I'm call Kevin my father was chunky the electrician and state manager of the polko poco club and you late 60s where you can just take a bit of the poco as a second home to me when I was young owner at the club was as you know Alan k Joe lamb many of the stars I was 9 fantastic memories a little boy you see all the stars and then see the club and get knocked down in the 80s was very very sad for me and many other people thank you a big thanks John for lumbering my father Dawn chunky Crampton for meeting Chapel from the poco poco from the 60s and 70s many thanks phone Kevin and family thank you
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John.john201429@gmail.com
5 months ago
Hi Kevin thank you for memories. Yes your dad was a great man it was a pleasure to work with him john 
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Phil Platt
5 years ago
Mate of mine called "Chunky" did the lights there for years.
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John A Hibbert
5 years ago
Yes chunky was the electrian he did all the electrical work when we was building the club.
I was one of the 3 joiners that built the club when it opened i stayed on as maintenance in the day time and worked in the sound and lighting at night along with tony .
Regards john
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Gary powell.
5 years ago
Worked there as a bar manager in late seventies. All ways remember serving Vince his favourite drink called it a Vince Miller special. Bacardi tonic with splash of lime. Fantastic times.
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ian kinsey
5 years ago
 This fabulous club deserves a lot more recognition than it is getting. Here are just some of the artists i appeared with at the Poco and supported in my duo Strange Brew. Hank Marvin of the Shadows my old friends the fantastic Peddlars Trevor Morais on drums Roy Phillips Keyboard and Tab Hunter Bass. The Searchers, My good friend the late Billy Fury, Freddie Star, The Fantastics from Philadelphia. Gerry Marsden. and so many many more. John Phillips Was the Musical Director at the Poco and the person who used to write all my dots. This Club was up there with the Talk of The North and the Broadway. Surely some artists must still be around and remember it well ?
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Alberto
4 years ago
I used to live nearby. 1960's, My self, and a group of young friends used to hang out around the back. You could climb up a series of stepped bricks to a flat roof.
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Kl
4 years ago
I worked behind the bar in the Poco early 70s...lot's of memories good and bad .
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Kathy Lyons
4 years ago
Anyone remember Mike  Curtis ?
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Jan
3 years ago
Yes I remember Mike and the group saw them many times and remember him joining the Ivy League.
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Kkevincrampton
2 years ago
Quoting Ian Kinsey:
I sang at the Poco many many times when Fred Shawcross was the compere, and very good he was at it.  He was also a fantastic drummer and a really nice person. He was always very appreciative of my music which at the time I was doing a lot of Jack Jones material as well as many of the popular stuff of the time. Not forgetting Vince Miller, also a great compere and again a lovely guy. I performed there Christmas of 1969 or 1970 when Alan Kay owned the Club, Alan came into my dressing room and asked if I would do one or two Christmas Carols with him on stage, within seconds all the artists that were performing there came on stage and it was a night I will never forget. Great Club, fantastic memories. Does anybody remember that night I wonder. 
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John hibbert
5 months ago
Yes I remember that night 1969.
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Andrew Wood
2 years ago
Me and my Dad worked there mid 70's me as pot washer him as a waiter. Saw some dreadful 'turns'
Vince Miller was a real character.  I believe he was a salesman at International Marine which sold yachts in the centre of Manchester and the building later became the Hacienda.
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Val
2 months ago
Was you married to sue did you also do the door at the casino next door to the poca poca
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