Cleethorpes pier & Winter Gardens

Cleethorpes Pier and Winter Gardens: The East Coast Heart of Northern Soul

Introduction

While Northern Soul is often associated with clubs in the North West and Midlands, Cleethorpes Pier and Winter Gardens played a vital role in the scene, proving that the movement extended far beyond Wigan and Blackpool.

From the mid-1970s through the early 1980s, Cleethorpes became one of the most important hubs for Northern Soul all-nighters, attracting top DJs, die-hard dancers, and the rarest records. Unlike other venues, it had two iconic locations—first, Cleethorpes Pier, which hosted some of the best all-nighters of the 1970s, and later, the Winter Gardens, which became a major venue in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Cleethorpes brought a unique seaside atmosphere to the Northern Soul scene, and it became a must-visit destination for soul fans. It was a place where people could dance all night, then walk out to see the sunrise over the sea—a sight many still remember fondly today.

This article explores the history of Cleethorpes Pier and Winter Gardens, the legendary dancefloors, the DJs who defined its sound, the records that became classics, the live performances, and the lasting legacy of these incredible venues.

The History of the Venues: Cleethorpes Pier and Winter Gardens

Cleethorpes Pier (1973-1977)

Cleethorpes Pier was originally built in 1873 as a traditional British seaside attraction. However, by the 1970s, it had become one of the most important Northern Soul venues in the UK.

The first Northern Soul all-nighter at Cleethorpes Pier took place in 1973, thanks to promoter Paul “Toby” Tomlinson, who saw the potential of the venue. The club quickly became hugely popular, drawing dancers from Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and further afield.

What made Cleethorpes Pier special was its location—it was one of the only Northern Soul venues actually built over the sea. Dancing above the waves, with the sound of the tide below and the first light of dawn shining through the windows, created a magical experience.

The final all-nighter at Cleethorpes Pier took place in 1977, as the club was forced to close due to licensing issues. However, the Northern Soul scene in Cleethorpes wasn’t finished—it simply moved to a new home.

Cleethorpes Winter Gardens (1977-1988, later revived in the 1990s)

After the closure of Cleethorpes Pier, the scene shifted to the Winter Gardens, a larger venue that became one of the key clubs of the 1980s Northern Soul revival.

The Winter Gardens was a classic ballroom venue with a huge dancefloor, allowing for an even bigger crowd. It kept the spirit of Cleethorpes Pier alive, hosting regular all-nighters that maintained the energy of the original venue while pushing the sound of Northern Soul forward.

The Winter Gardens continued as a major Northern Soul venue throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, eventually closing in 2007, when the building was demolished.

The Dancefloor and Venue Atmosphere

Both Cleethorpes Pier and Winter Gardens had unique atmospheres that set them apart from other Northern Soul venues.

• Cleethorpes Pier was intimate, raw, and energetic. The wooden floor, slightly uneven due to its seaside construction, gave it a distinct bouncy feel, which dancers loved. It was smaller than Wigan Casino, but the tight, packed dancefloor created an intense and unforgettable vibe.
• Cleethorpes Winter Gardens, by contrast, was a grander, more spacious venue, with a huge polished dancefloor, making it perfect for spins, slides, and fast footwork.

The sea air, the sunrise, and the sense of escape made Cleethorpes a legendary location for Northern Soul fans. Unlike landlocked venues, where dancers left into dark streets, in Cleethorpes, you could walk out onto the seafront at dawn, making for an unforgettable experience.

One regular at the club recalled:
“There was nothing like walking out of Cleethorpes Pier after an all-nighter, watching the sun rise over the sea, and knowing you’d just been part of something special.”

The DJs Who Defined Cleethorpes Pier and Winter Gardens

Cleethorpes had some of the most respected DJs in Northern Soul, including:

• Tony Clayton – One of the original Cleethorpes Pier DJs, known for finding rare soul gems.
• Gary Rushbrook – A key figure in bringing new sounds to Cleethorpes.
• Dave Raistrick – One of the best DJs of the Winter Gardens era.
• Richard Searling – A Northern Soul legend who frequently played at both venues.
• Ady Croasdell – The man behind the Kent Records label, who helped shape Cleethorpes’ later music direction.

Cleethorpes was a place where DJs took risks. They introduced rare discoveries, breaking new Northern Soul classics that would later spread to Wigan, Blackpool, and beyond.

10 Records That Became Famous at Cleethorpes

Cleethorpes helped break many Northern Soul classics, with DJs and dancers playing a key role in making certain records legendary. Here are 10 tracks that became famous thanks to Cleethorpes Pier and Winter Gardens:

1. Herbert Hunter – “I Was Born to Love You”
2. Lou Edwards & Today’s People – “Talkin’ ’Bout Poor Folks”
3. The Jades – “I’m Where It’s At”
4. Bobby Kline – “Say Something Nice to Me”
5. Salvadores – “Stick By Me Baby”
6. Chuck Jackson – “What’s With This Loneliness”
7. Ronnie McNeir – “Sitting in My Class”
8. Oscar Perry – “I’m On My Way”
9. Little Ann – “Who Are You Trying to Fool”
10. Milly & Silly – “Getting Ready for the Heartbreak”

These tracks became classics of the Cleethorpes scene, later appearing on compilation albums and in DJ sets worldwide.

Live Performances at Cleethorpes

Cleethorpes was one of the best venues for live performances, regularly hosting American soul legends who had no idea how popular they were in the UK. Some of the biggest names to perform at Cleethorpes included:

• Edwin Starr – A Northern Soul favorite who played multiple times.
• Tommy Hunt – A huge name in the Northern Soul scene.
• Al Wilson – Performed his classic “The Snake”, which was a massive Northern Soul hit.
• Garnet Mimms – Known for “Looking for You”, a Cleethorpes classic.
• JJ Barnes – A Detroit soul legend embraced by UK fans.

For many of these artists, playing in Cleethorpes was a life-changing experience, as they had never realized how much love their records had overseas.

The Legacy of Cleethorpes Pier and Winter Gardens

Although both venues are now gone, Cleethorpes remains one of the most important locations in Northern Soul history.

• The Cleethorpes Soul Weekenders continue the tradition, keeping the spirit of the original all-nighters alive.
• Many of the records that broke at Cleethorpes are still dancefloor favorites today.
• The influence of Cleethorpes DJs can still be heard in modern Northern Soul sets.

For many, Cleethorpes was a magical place, where the seaside setting, passionate crowd, and incredible music combined to create an unforgettable experience.

Conclusion

Cleethorpes Pier and Winter Gardens helped define what Northern Soul was and what it would become. They brought the scene to the East Coast, broke new records, and hosted some of the best all-nighters in history.

Even though the venues are gone, their legacy lives on every time a dancer spins to a Northern Soul classic.

Cleethorpes will always be remembered as a seaside soul paradise, where the music, the dance, and the sunrise combined to create something truly special.