Do you remember The Cat’s Whiskers and Angels?
DON’T miss your weekend Express for a real trip down Memory Lane with our great feature on the town’s hottest nightspots - The Cat’s Whiskers and Angels - and their regulars!
Just the mention of the names of these two clubs will bring memories flooding back. They were well-known landmarks in town and across the North, drawing clubbers from far and wide along with the diehard regulars.
The disco era was at its height in the 70s and 80s and the “Cat’s”, as it was known, and the “Angels” rode high. In its heyday in 1977 the “Cat’s”, which began life as the Mecca dance hall, hosted an evening with radio’s top DJs of the time, Noel Edmonds, Tony Blackburn and Dave Lee Travis.
And one of biggest names associated with the “Angels” is internationally renowned “retro” DJ Paul Taylor.
Both clubs have their place in Burnley’s rich and varied history and in this special feature to mark the 125th anniversary of the Burnley Express you can see why.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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Comments
There are 13 comments to this article
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Blackpools Finest
Monday, March 19, 2012 at 07:08 PMIt would be great to spend some time around where it all happened....I walked round by the circ last week, swiss bar is still there, broadswords is now an imfo centre I think. who remembers the saint james bar where all the queers met ?. and the hop.......I remember getting a spanking in there when it was closed OMG how bad is that
Burnleyguy
Friday, March 16, 2012 at 11:38 AMWhat a shame there are so few comments on here, about such a great time in the history of Burnley
madstock
Sunday, February 26, 2012 at 10:09 PMGreat memories of 'The Cats', Angels & Swiss corner etc. as already mentioned that's when Burnley really was 'the place to be'. Happy days!
Frankx5
Sunday, February 26, 2012 at 03:29 AM"Swiss Corner" this brings back big memories..... for not only was I a regular visitor I actually hepled build the place!! Yes we fitted out the Swiss Corner at the Keirby Hotel I was an apprentice joiner at the time and the work was undertaken by John Turner & Smiths!! I can remember the designerarchitect walking in and saying to us all "Throw all your levels away!" A strange request but like he pointed out "They didn't have levels when they built the Swiss cottages, everything was done by the eye!" So if you ever thought that post looks wonky that was the reason why!! Now 57 I remember everything below and more.... I was a scooter boy and loved every minute of it. The Cats & Angels were great pickup joints. My God the "Benders" we used to have.... drinking from Friday till Sunday, weekends were great then!! Miners (Bank Hall) was also a favourite haunt Sunday afternoons!! (The HOP too) Ahhhhh the GOOD TIMES!!
drw
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 07:16 PMFond memories of a long lost Burnley a time when a young man like myself grew up.
Roy Thorpe
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 12:34 PMI had many happy times at the "cats", "Roseroom" "Annabellas" "Circulation" "Angels" both as a customer-reveller, and as a doorman at all the clubs too, albiet I was only at the angels in the last few months when Dave Miller had bought it and consequently moved his monies to property in Jersey. Then lanzorotte. In fact I worked for dave when he was the manager at the Cats, in the 70s. alas he was sacked for banking the fiddle and keeping the take, the fiddle was more than the takings lol. if any of you knew dave, well you know he liked his drink. mecca gave him 6months wages in lou of notice and he went onto buy Mr millers and another club in Accrington. he still lived in his home down heasandford though. At the cats in 1981 I worked with dave Woods, John Fitzpatrick, John was often mistook for chuck Norris, ha ha , think he lives over hasligton now, dave I dont really know, Martin was the other doorman with us, he still gets about town shopping. then again in 1985 my last stint, where I then worked on the pub doors then onto the clubs as a freelance, we earned more money that way. I used to work with my brother in law at the time on the pubs, billy Kerr. then worked the pubs on my own afterwards. then I did a stint at the "trop" that was a nightmare in 198990 as I was working the club on my own too. they were many mental cases in nelson then. I had a rule for other doorman, please and thank you dont cost a penny but it saves a lot of agro. never once did I have to use any violence on anyone throughout all the years on the door. had many of arguments though. then again they were started by people which were drunk or very tipsy. the worst nights were on a Sunday Monday nights at the cats in 81 when it was young kids night. they were well out of order.But when caught misbehaving and told off they would start up on the grounds "that you cant touch me or I will get you for common assault. ha ha. Just the mention of The cats and the other clubs takes me back with all happy memories for long periods of my 56 years in this life.
Blackpools Finest
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 12:05 PMWho remembers The swiss corner where the scooter boys met each wednesday nite, also the broadswords landlord was Tom i late 1970s and I must mention the circulation club, once saw a bloke pull a shotgun out there at jeff slater and phil mathews, happy days in burnley
Burnleyguy
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 09:49 PMI remember Bob Tidswell, he was the bar manager, Johnny Ceaser, Brynn, Tommy Patrick, Dave Earnshaw, Ian, and a few of the Other doormen...brilliant place and Paul Simon was a good DJ...happy days Tommy Pat's favourite saying was, "you out with the leg iron tonight" meaning girlfriend Wouldn't mind catching up, if any of them are reading this, my E Mail is angels.disco@btinternet.com
burnley1959
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 05:25 PMThe Angels fantastic memories big respect to big tommy pat top doorman proper looked after me.
Blackpools Finest
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 02:34 PMDo you remember Bob Tidswell who was a manager at The Angels, sadly he passed away a few years ago, but was a really nice chap, also ginger. johnny caesar, Big Brynn all doormen at the club........good to look back cheers matey
jtothel
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 01:21 PMMany a fantastic night in the Angels.... shame a night out in Burnley is not so much fun, or as safe anymore!
Burnleyguy
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 11:22 AMI remember all the good time I had as a regular at Angels in Hammerton street, in Burnley, and was a personal friend of Mr Paul Simon who was the manager of Angels, a club well ahead of it's time, and a brilliant place for a night out. Its such a shame that the Town has changed so much, you could have a night out in safety, now the Town is like the wild west. I would like to take this opportunity to say Hi to all the great people I met at the Angels and all the brilliant people who worked there, too many to mention here
Blackpools Finest
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 11:57 AMSuch wonderful memories of these venues, where did it all go to? Maybe charlie briggs will recite his memories of old burnley, now that would be so enlightening, meanwhile mr burnley is off to blackpol for the weekend, more about him next week
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