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Clock Tower

The Virgin record store
by Sedat Nemli

I was a student at Sussex University (Falmer) and lived in Brighton and Hove between the years 1974-1977. I remember the old Virgin Records building at the Clock Tower with great affection. After all, where else in those days could one actually listen to records before or without having to buy them ? I also recall one Steve Harris who worked there, a local drummer, first with the band Flatfoot, followed by the wonderful Amazorblades. The latter (whose best, sadly unrecorded, song was called 'Seven Dials'!) frequently played the Alhambra pub on the seafront which has also disappeared, I believe.

sent to website by e-mail on 05-12-2002
This page was added on 22/03/2006.

Comments:

My dad believes that this was the first Virgin records outlet in the country although websites appear to tell me otherwise. Do you know if this is true?
By Adrian Hemsley (09/09/2003)
I played in a jazz band with Steve Harris for four years. He is back in Brighton (2004). One of the best jazz drummers I've ever played with. My ex-girfriend's older sister who was at Sussex University in the early seventies, told me that the Virgin Shop would let the local homeless hippies crash on the floor overnight. Try doing that in the Virgin Upper Class Lounge at Heathrow!
By Josh Greifer (11/03/2004)
The original Virgin Records shop (where Boots now is) wasn't the first in the country - that was in Oxford Street above a shoe shop at the Marble Arch end. But it was one of the first, opening around 1973. The building was curved and on the corner - the main shop a three quarter circle with a further semi-circle on a raised level behind, covered in cushions and headphones. People used to sprawl there all day and there was a fair sprinkling of 'residents'. Anyone remember the friendly giant wino Black Dez now long dead?. Some of the original staff moved on to Richard Branson's recording studio and then offices - The Manor - I think it was. Suzie was the first manageress. The best bit about the back of the shop was the bootleg albums - hundreds of them. Before that the building was an automatic sandwich shop - everthing was served from dispensing machines - we used to be fascinated by it when I was a kid. Virgin moved up to a small shop on the left of Queen's Road some years later - roughly where the Albion shop is, and then to Western Road after that. I've still got a copy of the 'Farewell Virgin' record shaped invite I did for their closing party in Summer 1977. The party was held in the house I was renting in Walsingham Road, Hove, in the days when Steve was manager. Incidentally, that block which was demolished for Boots, also housed a dodgy downstairs pub next door - was it The Standard? They had a constant fight with the council over drag nights and strippers. Of course there was the Regent Cinema and Ballroom. I'm currently collecting data on 'The Big Apple' club that ran there in 1970-2, if anyone's got anything, get in touch?
By Paul Kaczmarek (11/05/2004)
Anybody have any photos of The Whippet Inn (formerly The Electric Grape and later The Crazy Lady)? It's still a pub on the left as you go up from the Clock Tower. I'm looking for pics of punks and skinheads in the pub, or anywhere round town from 1986 onwards' Any photos would be appreciated. www.punkbrighton.co.uk has loads of info on Brighton in the 70s. Cheers.
By Lex (12/07/2004)
About the wonderful Amazorblades - whose best, sadly unrecorded, song was called 'Seven Dials' - frequently played the Alhambra pub. They were one of a succession of bands who rehearsed in an improvised rehearsal space in a shared house in Ditchling, next to my room.
By John Traxler (27/10/2004)
This is for Paul Kaczmarek. I remember the Big Apple Club. I went there quite often and Donovan is the only person I can remember. That type of music has never been my forte. Were my memory to be jogged I could tell you more. It used to be the 'in' place to go and meet everyone, then it quietly closed down.
By Bernardo (18/03/2005)
I used to go in to Virgin, you could listen to loads of albums all day. I remember black Dez he would show you porno pics he had in a booklet. I was scared of him.
By Phil Hemsley (13/08/2005)
I remember seeing them at the Central Hotel opposite Worthing Central Station in 1970s. I loved 'em! Anyone know what happenned to them?
By Ray Hennig (14/02/2006)

The Virgin Records shop was on the corner and long before that (1960s) this had been a branch of a bank that was closed due to an amalgamation - possibly it was the 'National & Provincial' that became Natwest. Odd that eventually Black Dez reigned there.

By Adrian Baron (25/01/2007)

The Virgin Records shop opened 1971 or early 1972. While working at American Express, I rang Virgin in London and spoke to Richard Branson about getting a job in the shop when it opened. I left Amex in August 1971, so this conversation must have been before that and the shopfitting was already under way. (Nothing came of the job conversation.)
The bank was Barclays, before the pretentious building was built lower down North Street. See this for a photo of the bank:
http://www.citylibraries.info/pictures/default.asp
search for Brighton Town Centre, North Street.
The picture is "Marching Band, 1940s".

By Barry Parks (08/08/2007)

Barry is absolutely right - it was indeed a branch of Barclays Bank. They must have moved because it was too small, to say nothing of the noise of traffic going past.

By Adrian Baron (13/09/2007)

I seem to recall going to a Job Centre over the top of the building on the corner, unless my memory is playing tricks on me! I remember looking out to Burtons and the Clock Tower. Virgin stores was a great place to go.

By Jennifer Tonks (nee Smith) (17/10/2008)

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