WHEN Jimmy Corrigan built his nightclub on a disused site in Batley, he had a vision.
He and wife Betty had been to Las Vegas to research clubs and develop a design for their new venue. With a 1,750 seating capacity, and standing room, their Batley club also had an intimate feel, with low ceilings, tables arranged cabaret-style, for good views of the stage, and the band at the back of the stage so artistes could be closer to the audience.
The Bachelors topped the bill at the opening night, in March 1967, and Batley Variety Club quickly became one of the North’s top venues, attracting American stars such as Louis Armstrong, Neil Sedaka, Roy Orbison, Eartha Kitt and Gene Pitney, as well as British acts including Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, Lulu and Morecambe and Wise. At its peak the club had 300,000 members. It closed in the late 1970s, later re-opening as The Frontier nightclub. The venue closed in 2016 and became a gym.
A photo of Batley Variety Club on the T&A’s We Grew Up In Bradford Facebook page has prompted some fond memories. Here are some of them:
Angela Whittaker: “Saw the Hollies there just after I got married, they sang Too Young to be Married to me and sent a bottle of Champagne to the table. Only problem was, the person I was with was a work colleague not my husband.”
Hazel Jones Scott: “Saw Roy Orbison there a few times, Neil Sedaka, Shirley Bassey, Showaddywaddy, The Nolans, but will never forget Duane Eddy who was amazing. Happy days.”
Rae Gledhill: “We went to Batley variety club a lot when we were courting, saw lots of stars including Bee Gees when they first started. My favourite was Jimmy Ruffin.”
Clare Mitch: “My mum and dad were landlord and lady of The Beefeater. They used to have many stars who performed at Batley Variety Club eating there in the 70s.”
Judith Wilkinson: “Fantastic times there, saw Tom Jones, Drifters, Joe Dolan and so many more. Loved the chicken in a basket.”
Anne Ingham: “Dressed up to the nines eating chicken and chips in a basket - by God, didn’t we know how to live.”
Christine Reed: “Saw Gene Pitney, the Hollies, Drifters, Gerry and the Pacemakers. Scampi in a basket.”
Linda Coomber: “The Walker Brothers in the 70s. I was recovering from glandular fever, I went with my friend and her dad.”
Jenny Cranston: “Had many a glitzy night there.We used to get free tickets at the nurses’ home! Everything was very sparkly, sitting at cabaret tables with drinks and a meal.”
Brenda Horgan: “We saw Gene Pitney twice - he had to go off stage one time because he had stomach ache! We also saw Engelbert Humperdinck, who pointed out Tom Jones on a balcony. All rounded off with chicken and chips in a basket.”
Lois Fradgley: “Saw Charlie Williams there, I went on stage to be presented with flowers for my birthday.”
Pauline Sugden: “I worked there when I was at Batley art college, we got paid 25p an hour!”
Patricia Royle: “Saw Roy Orbison each time he performed there. The one that was brilliant was Chuck Berry in 1976 the place was rockin and some of audience, including my sister and 16-year-old daughter, were up on stage dancing with him.”
Vaughan Chapman: “The stars used to have a table booked, for after shows, at the Box Tree in Ilkley. I worked there whilst at school in the 1970s and remember lots of acts. Shirley Bassey had special treatment as she was a favourite of Malcolm and Colin, the owners. Others I remember were Tom Jones, Johnny Mathis, Clodagh Rogers, The Grumbleweeds and Lulu. When I was 18 I went to the Batley Variety a few times - saw the Three Degrees, the Supremes (got their autographs afterwards), The Four Tops. Great days...”
Lenise Harrison: “I went with Mum and Dad to see Englebert and he gave me a kiss. I think Mum was more thrilled than I was.”
David Batty: “Had my stag night there in 1971. George Hamilton the 4th was on, right load of rubbish, but undercard were two young comedians who saved the night - Little and Large.”
Barbara Hannan: “I remember Tommy Cooper, his massive feet sticking out behind the curtain before he came on.”
Susie Turnbull: “I remember the girls who went round selling cigarettes on a tray.”
Ann Smith: “I went to see Sandy Shaw on my 21 birthday in1967.”
Berni Brown: “Saw Mud in 1974, I was just seven, all the girls screamed when they sang Tiger Feet!
David Smith: “Saw Cilla Black, Lulu, Shirley Bassey, The Drifters. Used to take LPs to the stage door to get autographs.”
Janet Robb: “Saw Freddie Starr, frightened me to death, didn’t know what he was doing next. Hilarious though, staggering around with a bucket, you didn’t know if it was full of water or paper.”
Donna Jowett: “My grandad Bernard Hinchcliffe was Jimmy Corrigan’s booking agent at the start and booked The Bachelors, Shirley Bassey, plus many others. He travelled with Jimmy to New York to secure Louis Armstrong.”
Neville Cannon: “Used to go Monday evenings in late 60s, early 70s, saw everything from Olivia Newton John to Gracie Fields, and the one and only Shirley Bassey.”
Ken Rice: “Eartha Kitt. First date with my wife over 54 years ago.”
Paula Hey: “Went to watch Tiny Tim , he sang There Will Always Be an England in a squeaky voice. A soldier in the audience took exception to his mimic of the song and fisted him in his face. The bouncers lifted the soldier over their heads and threw him out.”
Philip Stones: “My dad was there the night Eamonn Andrews surprised Charlie Williams with This is Your Life.”
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