Coalville Tiffany's All-nighters and All-dayers.

Location: Coalville, Leicestershire.

Date: 1975-1978.

Northern Soul in Coalville actually occurred in two different time periods. In 1975, Coalville Tiffs ran an all-dayer and an all-nighter, which closed and re-opened, only to close again. On both occasions, the closure was the result of the local DS objecting to the licence due to alleged drug abuse.

During the first season, Coalville Tiff's was only partially successful. Never a major venue, it attracted mediocre crowds. A two room venue, the main room played current sounds, and the 'Bali Hai' room (did every Mecca establishment have a Bali Hai room?) served as a sort of Mr. Ms. The music was heavily influenced by the Wigan Casino playlist, and they sold chicken in a basket as well. Not many takers though (I wonder why?).

During the second season, it became a major commercial success. Largely due to the skills of a certain Mr. Chris King, the all-nighter soon began to pull in large crowds.

However, the quality of the music sometimes left something to be desired. Tracks like Tim Tam and the Turn-Ons 'Wait A Minute' and Wynder K. Frogg 'Green Door' were being played to death, and most soul lovers were praying for Soul Sam to come on, only then to be treated to The Camp 'Marching' (Mummy's little soldier... URGH!). There seemed to be a bit of a shortage of quality new material at the time, and a lot of classic oldies like 'Trampoline' and 'Tightrope' were being recycled. It was a bit of a rough patch for Northern Soul.

Coalville Tiffs was always on a loser though, as the DS were seemingly obsessed with shutting it down. Everyone was searched on entry, and I remember a mate of mine being whisked away (at an all-dayer!!!) to be treated to 'a few questions' behind closed doors. He emerged about an hour later, white as a ghost, having been interrogated heavily. He was clean but had been suspected as being a pusher. He didn't want to talk about it.

Editors note: After a recent conversation with the victim of this outrage, it appears that the only activity that could have aroused the suspicions of of the DS was the exchange of money for seats on a coach trip to an up-and-coming soul event. Let's be careful out there.

Pictured to the left: Johnny 'JD' Dawson at Coalville Tiffs, with Trev Wright (back left), 'Stan' Dowell (bottom left) and Joey Kirby (bottom right) enjoying a nap. Note the fashions... JD's jeans (and haircut!), the bar towel tucked in to the trouser waistband, and Stan's kerchief worn round the neck.. cool or what!

Coalville Tiffs finally closed in August 1978. By a quirk of fate, a recording of the last night of Coalville Tiffany's still exists, featuring the aforementioned Chris King at the decks, playing a monster tune of the time 'Village Of Tears' by Ben Zine.

You can enjoy the atmosphere simply by clicking on the entry ticket (right) issued on that fateful night... Actually, the quality is awful, but who ever heard of hi-fi at an all-nighter!