The S. S. Brighton was never referred to as a sport centre but was either the Sports Stadium or the SS Brighton. The company that originally owned it was the Sports Stadium (Brighton) Ltd. My father was the first company secretary and later general manager.

We would go to the Regent most Saturday nights. It had a wonderful bouncy dance floor. Syd Dean was the leader of the resident band for a long time and was very good. We loved to dance (and chat up the boys) at the weekend.

We used to go to the Regent Ballroom. Thursday night was record night - 2/6 to get in. Terrific bouncy floor. They used to play Ricky Nelson's 'It's Late' as the last dance. I used to change into my friend's highheels as Mum didn't allow me to have them! Such good times.

I used to ice skate every week with friends at The SS Brighton, I think it was the first place that I had hot blackcurrant in a glass mug. We were there on the last night and had a wonderful time, it was a great loss to Brighton when it closed. We also roller skated across the road in The Ritz Roller Rink. I can remember well the roller boots that were worn out and had no support for the ankles. When I was older I met my husband in the mid sixties in The Milk Bar which was about half way up Queens Road on the left hand side going towards the station. We used to go dancing in the Regent Ballroom on Saturdays and were engaged in The Golden Galleon round the corner from the Regent in Queens Road.

Sandie, you brought back happy memories. l remember the record 'its late' by Ricky Nelson, it was about 9.30pm and it was my cue to get my skates on to run for the bus to be home by 10pm,before my dad started to make for the bus stop, reminding me l was late. How did we pack so much in ,in such a short evening. Night Clubs! What were they?

Whiskey-A-Go-Go! I'm very surprised at the lack of comment on this, Brighton's most famous coffee bar. From about '57 to the early Sixties it was probably THE meeting place for most teenagers. I first went in '57 when there were low tables facing the bench seats that ran around the walls. As business increased these tables were removed, a bigger stereo jukebox was installed and attendance just kept increasing until, by '59, Saturday nights, in particular, involved sliding into the basement room sideways and it could take half an hour to work your way round to find your friends. By this time Tom had to restrict admission as the Council were getting a bit twitchy about so many people in such a small area. Imagine a room about twenty feet by twelve holding a big jukebox, a coffee bar and about a hundred and twenty youngsters all trying to dance to Tom's latest selection of records, some of them directly from the U.S. weeks before they were relaesed here. Many a good friend I made there, some gone on to fame and fortune. All unfortunately lost as I joined the R.A.F. in 1960 and lost touch. A great coffee bar, run by a great bloke and a place of many, many happy memories.

Doesn't anyone remember the coffe bar run by Percy at the bottom of North Road just along from the King and Queen? I spent many an hour or two listening and jiving to the jukebox with only one bottle of Coca Cola to last all night.

Hi
I love this site which is a real trip down Memory Lane. I was born in 1951 and lived in Lansdowne Place in Hove. I remember visiting a panto that was on ice when I was about 3 years old. It must have been Goldilocks and the Three Bears as I recall a bear getting out of bed and reaching beneath to pull out a chamber pot which he then sat on. About that time there was also a travelling musical group that always seemed to be near the Clock Tower. I now know they were baseing themselves on Flanagan and Alan. Again, I was about 3 or 4 years of age and I used to enjoy seeing them 'dance/walk' along the streets which also had the tracks in the roads for the buses to run on although I don't actually remember seeing any buses on them. A few years on and Union Jack flags were hung out of windows to celebrate the start of a new decade, (something you don't see now) as we moved into the 1960's. They were also hung out to celebrate Princess Margaret's wedding to Lord Snowden. There was another great turn out when the circus came to town. They paraded along Western Road on their way to Hove Park. The traffic was diverted while cages of animals travelled through the street, and young women rode on the necks of elephants or on horseback. There were so many people I had to climb on one of those green boxes that contain grit, so that I could see it all. I remember many Sunday evenings at the Top Rank Suite dancing to Syd Dean and his Orchestra, which I assume they moved to after the Regent closed, and doing the March of the Mods or the Can Can. I can remember buying tickets to see Pink Floyd appear there also, must have been about 1967. My favourite haunt was the Starlight Rooms. No license to serve alcohol, you would get your hand stamped so you could go to the pub across the road for a drink, then return to the Starlight. It was always pitch dark in there and I don't recall any seats or tables. The youngsters at work laugh at me now when I tell them I once met a man called Jesus in there! They all say they didn't think I was that old! Cheeky monkeys.

I remember the Starlight having spent many very happy hours there as a teenager. I remember going out to the pub in Oriental Place and having my hand stamped. The Starlight was very dark, no windows, divided into rooms and I expect a real health and safety hazard but fantastic at the time. Do you remember the lighting used to show your bra if it was white? One night was for live bands and I went out with one of the performers! He was with The Mojo Hands and played at school discos. Happy days.

How about all the Brighton jazz clubs that operated in the 1950s? The Chalet Club in Western Road, Hove where the Ted Ambrose band with Bernie Waterman on piano, Sailor Spicer on bass, Keith Slade, Stu Emsley and others blasted out 'Trad' jazz. The Vanguard in New Road with the wonderful Les Jowett band. The Coney Hill in Montpelier Road with Les Wood recreating the music of George Lewis. All full of happy youngsters jiving and living it up with no hint of any trouble.
Does anyone remember Uncle Bonnie Manzi's 'Chinese Jazz Club' at the Aquarium?  All night sessions and some great London musicians. The Regent dance hall and all the coffee bars. Ken and Jackie Moorhouse ran one in North Street over a billiard saloon. There was 'Tingeys' in Dyke Road near the Clock Tower and many others spread over central Brighton. I wonder how many of us who were in our late teens and early twenties during the 1950s have happy memories of those 'golden days' when bright, stylish clothes were making an appearance in the shops and it was safe to walk around the streets late at night. There was virtually full employment, the girls were pretty and it was a 'fun time'.
Sport:- The Albion at the Goldstone Ground. Cricket at Hove. The amazing Brighton Tigers at the SS Brighton (remember Bobby Lee, Gib Hutchinson, Lorne Trottier, Mike O'Brien and others), Cycle Racing at Preston Park track and the rise of Whitehawk Football Club.  A great era !

Regarding the comments above about the Starlight Rooms and the mention of The Mojo Hands, there is a website dedicated to the Brighton of the sixties: www.brightonbeat.com
All the local bands of the sixties are listed including the Mojo Hands, who brightonbeat would like to contact, along with any other local bands with information.
There is also a section on all the local dance places including the Regent and the Starlight Rooms.