It's been over twenty years since the iconic Stockport variety club Quaffers closed its doors for the final time.

The 2,600 capacity venue hosted a number of famous acts and popular club nights for over two decades from its Bredbury site.

The Hollingworth Road club was even a hot favourite with celebrities and sports stars such as George Best.

Owned by multi-millionaire hotelier Dougie Flood, the venue - with its raised dance floor and live entertainment - became a firm favourite among Stockport’s smart set in the 70s and 80s, along with the Firkin Inn next door.

But as fashions changed and variety entertainment dwindled in popularity, the final curtain came down on the club in December 1998.

While the land that once occupied Quaffers has long since been transformed, former regulars' memories of the venue in its heyday are strong - and they've been sharing them with the Manchester Evening News.

Special thanks to former Quaffers DJs David Jarratt, Gary Price and the members of Stockport Memories Facebook group.

The stars

Quaffers played host to string of top entertainment acts back in the day - the likes of Shirley Bassey, Tommy Cooper, the Drifters and Suzi Quattro all performed on the famous stage.

In its later years, the club hosted a performance from a newly-formed boy band - known as Take That

One of their members, now international star Gary Barlow , was already known by the Quaffers team, after playing piano at neighbouring Bredbury Hall.

Lisa Clare said: "Take That on a Wednesday night in cycling shorts and bomber jackets before they got famous. .. and a snog from Mark Owen."

Amanda Reid agreed: "Take That! I’m sure they must’ve been very amused/bewildered when the Thunderbirds theme tune started and the stage rose up from out of the floor and the wooden chocks were put in place!

"That took more than a minute girl... but worth every penny of my 'Golden' membership!"

The venue welcomed a great number of stars during its 20 years in business, which former customers remember fondly.

Darren Brown said: "I saw and met Edwin Starr at Quaffers I will always remember what a fantastic time I had when I went - I also remember the best hot beef butties from there."

Steve Ridgeway said: "I got Suzi Quatro's autograph there in 1973!"

Sue Taylor said: "Saw Shirley Bassey there back in the day."

Carol Eaton said: "Cannon and Ball. Alexander O’Neill. Moving dance floor......happy days!"

Pete Dawson said: "Saw Bernard Manning there. Got a crackin' one liner that was unique."

Tina Little said: " Saw Body and Doyle one night there they were doing panto at the Davenport theatre, had my picture took with them, good memories of Quaffers."

Maria Meadowcroft said: "I had an amazing night watching Shakatak around '81."

Helen Sanders said: "My ex saw Village People there and swears that the punk type guy’s mohican was fastened on with elastic - like a party hat!"

Maureen Siddall said: "I was in there one night and was sat at a table in the bar area with Bryan Robson and Steve Bruce. They signed a couple of beer mats for us."

Joanne Renshaw said: "I went most weeks with my best friend we was only 15 but got in. I remember seeing the Village People and the Stylistics there - we went to the Stylistics after-party which was at Bredbury Hall till 5 in the morning - they never knew my age!"

The famous rising stage

The interior of Quaffers - which was described as 'classical opulent - glass, brass and mirrors'

 

Quaffers was famed for the rising stage in the middle of the dancefloor - a sight imprinted in the memory of those who witnessed it.

The impressive hydraulic stage would lift many famous guests upwards over the years, usually to the sound of the Thunderbirds theme tune.

Ian Stevenson said: "I have a claim to fame that I have actually appeared on the rising stage whilst sat on the toilet reading a copy of the Sunday Sport newspaper to the theme tune to Thunderbirds.

"I then sat in a bath of baked beans all evening to raise money for the local Mencap so the kids could have a Christmas party."

Peter Hassall said: "A friend of mine was doing a gig there and the big entrance was coming up the stage on a lift as Dracula, but he tripped, fell off the stage and onto a table, spraying fake blood on the guests."

Helen Sanders said: "I seem to recall the comedian Phil Cool telling a tale of the stage getting stuck when he was performing there, so only his head was visible to the audience.

"Also saw Dougie James and the Soul Train (I think that’s what they were called) and one of the band was on the stage concentrating on tuning his guitar with seemingly no idea that the stage had come up - he jumped out of his skin when he looked up and we were all there looking at him."

Anissa Jameson said: "The stage rising out of the dance floor will never be forgotten!"

The really strict dress code

Quaffers was renowned for its incredibly regimented rules on attire. 

Following on from its days as a cabaret club, punters were required to dress smartly to gain entry - with those falling foul of the regulations being turned away.

The rules, which included no white socks, no piercings or visible tattoos on males, and no shaven heads, made headlines after entry was refused to a man on his works Christmas party because his hairstyle was deemed 'unsuitable'.

The door policy is something that is well-remembered by former guests.

From the archives

Angela Redman said: "1970s I think. My hippy husband and I were given a couple of tickets.

"The doorman said 'Sir and madam can’t come in dressed like that!' We found it hysterically funny!"

Alison Bowden said: "My hubby got turned away because he was wearing white socks.

"He went back to his parents house in Romiley and borrowed his dad's coloured ones and went back and got in."

Simon Dakin said: " I was refused entry to Bredbury Hall when I took a shortcut through the fields and stood in a cowpat."

Ian Longden said: "The doorman with the white hair - Pete Wood. Nice guy. Small, but built like the proverbial...You wouldn't want to argue with him!"

Quaffers Staff in December 1985

The beef barm cakes

Before the days of a greasy kebab on the way home from a night out, Quaffers had its beef barm cakes. 

Served from the kitchen in the downstairs of the building, the simple sandwich is fondly remembered by those lucky enough to have experienced one.

Darren Brown said: " I will always remember what a fantastic time I had when I went. I also remember the best hot beef butties from there."

Les Greenhough said: "Beef barms in kitchen downstairs. Quality."

Izzy Bolton said: "Hot beef butties to die for."

Julie Fowler Smyth said: "The beef barms were fab, great memories of that place."

Janice Atkinson said: "Loved it ! Dougie Flood was great! The hot beef butties were the law!"

Vikki Sam said: "Hot beef butties to soak up the booze. Fantastic club!"

Anna Douglas said: "Recall going for two beef barms and when I returned my friend June said ‘are we sharing’? Somebody had helped themselves to one as I had held the plate above my head to wade through the crowds."

Gary Price on the mic at Quaffers

The Wednesday wet t-shirt night

Adult-themed entertainment was also on the programme, which included a wet t-shirt contest on a Wednesday night. 

The competition, aided by a built-in shower spraying water over the stage, was a popular feature.

A ladies-version of the event was launched, which saw male punters sporting a pair of Quaffers-branded boxers on stage in front of the crowds, to be crowned Mr Boxer Shorts.

One of the Mr Boxer Shorts competitions at Quaffers in Stockport

David Baliga said: " I used to work there back in the eighties - wet t -shirt and naughty nightie nights on a Wednesday."

Carol Austin said: "Miss wet, wobbly and wild competition, where the stage came up with a shower on it (no I didn't partake!).

Samantha Coates said: "I also remember the wet T-shirt competitions for the girls...they had to get in a shower on stage."

Kevin Middlehurst said: "The best memory by far was the shower they used to have on the dance floor, many a time I walked home soaking wet."

Revellers at Quaffers, Stockport

The events

Quaffers was a variety club, so it wasn't just live music and dancing.

The venue was also used to host a number of local events, including fashion shows, football presentations and parties.

"OMG so many [memories] - including doing fashion shows for Debenhams with my best friend Alison Bottomly and her sister Caroline Bottomly with the 'eye in the sky' Jo Blakeway doing commentary in the 1990's.

"We did these when it wasn't being used as a club at night. They were very popular - did them for charity. We had dressing rooms up stairs."

Claire Musgrove said: "I remember Alan Howard's doing a hairdressing show at Quaffers in 1983."

Peter Buckley wrote: "Alex Ferguson presented football trophies at the Wythenshawe league presentation in 1986."

Samantha Coates said: "I took part in a hair fashion show for Michael John, training as a model. I had a zig-zag perm and we had to strut our walk on the stage to Inner City, Big Fun."

Paula Lloyd said: "Piccadilly 1152 (early days pre-Key 103) used to hold a great annual Christmas gig there, Mike Sweeney was the DJ, always a brilliant night out, happy days."

The launch of the new Austin Metro

Car launches took place at Quaffers, making use of its dramatic rising dancefloor

 

A notable memory was the club being used to launch a new model of car - an Austin Metro in the 1980s. 

The car was placed on the hydraulic stage, and was revealed in a dramatic presentation, using the hydraulic stage..

Chris Bannister said: "British Leyland dealers had the presentation of the new Austin Metro there.

"It came up on the lift through a cloud of smoke onto the dance floor. I was there with other staff members."

Andrew Smith said: "Here’s a curved ball, we did a car launch there for Henlys back in the day, the Austin Metro, be about 1980..."

Gareth Alton said: "It was used to launch a new model of MG, think it was the Mini Metro and it rose up from the dance floor which was an impressive sight."

View of the extravagant interior of Quaffers

The romance

A large number of people met their spouses at Quaffers.

James Ferns said: "I met my husband there in 89."

Bernadette Cresswell said: "I met my husband there!

"Went every Wednesday and Friday with free tickets and my friend and I danced all night and drank water when we had no money but best ever club."

Karen Southall said: "I met my husband there in 1979."

Beverley Booth met her now-husband at the club and the pair went on to hold their wedding reception at the venue: "I met my husband there in the Library bar and we had our wedding reception in the function room above the Firkin Inn. Our wedding photo [was taken] by the fire in the library bar."

Party-goers at Quaffers in Stockport - 1980s

Martin Wild joked: "On the dance floor in 1983 I met the woman who would soon become my wife . . . I’ll never forgive Quaffers for that."

While others learned some valuable life lessons at the club.

Danny Dowling said: "Mid 80's. I was only in there twice. First Saturday I pulled this girl, breakfast etc great night so much I thought I'd go again following Saturday.

"Again, pulled (not handsome just gift of the gab), I was two hours drinking and several smoothies with this girl when in walked her sister. Yep, girl from previous week."

Carolyn Basham was a student nurse when she partied at Quaffers. She said: "We had fantastic ward parties there.

"I fancied the pants off a junior Dr, he danced with me then it was business as usual on the ward. My first lesson, at the age of 18, don't mix business with pleasure."

And a generation of fond memories

Over a hundred people shared their favourite memories of the landmark Stockport nightclub, paying homage to the many great nights spent at this one-of-a-kind venue.

Jill Ratcliffe said: "Spent many, many happy nights there over the years as I grew up in Romiley. Great place!"

Sian Elliott said: "Quaffers and Brett Paul the DJ. Brilliant nights out there."

Julie Harrison-Hamer said: "I spent many a Friday night there.

"We used to collect the vouchers on the tables which got you in free before 9.30. I remember Dougie sat at door in his white suit.

"You could go there and feel safe. We never once saw any trouble and we loved the Stax of Soul nights. £2.20 for two halves of Fosters! Them were the days."

Jill Ratcliffe at Quaffers on her work Christmas party in 1975

Karen Meakin said: "I had my hen night there in 1989 and my friends decided I wouldn’t appreciate a stripper so got me a  'trampogram' .. never been so embarrassed, being picked up on the stage by some scruffy bloke and read a poem to."

Julie Fowler Smyth said: "Had my 21st there, used to go in all the time... and Bredbury Hall."

Claire Crawford said: " I used to go straight from working behind the bar in the Spread Eagle!

"I was once taken home by my mate Nick in a wheel barrow! The beef barms were epic."

Margaret Slim said: "Drinks at The Firkin, dancing at Quaffers, breakfast at Bredbury Hall - a good night had!"

Alison O'Donnell said: "We used to have the booth at the far end of Quaffers on the left - that was a time when you left your handbag on the table as no-one would bother pinching or looking in it even, as we didn't have anything to pinch."

Wyn Hall said: " I had my hen do there in 1974. Sitting around drinking and smoking Carlton cigarettes! Then lots of dancing."

Julie Whittaker, who had her wedding reception at Quaffers said: "We came up from the stage with bridesmaids and best man!

"Had champagne in the library and then partied all night with our guests."

Did you go to Quaffers? Share your memories of the club in the comments section below.