THIS IS THE BLOG OF COLIN JONES, RHYL TOWN COUNCILLOR: BODFOR WARDl
The opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own and not the views of the town council.
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Among recent feedback came an email from John McDonald who lived in Rhyl for 25 years as was universally known as Johnny Mac. He says: I worked for Les Hughes for 15 years, firstly as a taxi driver, then he bought a lorry for removals then another one until he had three. Also I worked as a doorman at the Dixieland Showbar. At the moment I manage a fishing park in Udon Thani, Thailand.
Thanks for your message, John. I hope that the Dixieland Showbar advert above inspires memories; it comes from Rhyl’s official 1971 guide book. In the advert is a reminder of the Golden Fry Restaurant, open all day.
Pentre Bach model village, the subject of previous posts on this blog, was reduced in size to make way for building the Dixieland Showbar, Rhyl’s first night club. At first the club was operated by Trust House Forte Leisure who had taken over Ocean Beach Fun Fair. The club went through changes and eventually it was renamed Brunel’s Discotheque and Bar.
6720. Two additional images added here in June 2020:
Above is the scene at the far end of West Parade - Dolphins then the Dixieland, and then the fun fair.
Below: Advert for 'Dixie' night club indicates an intermediate stage between being the Dixieland and becoming Brunel's.
Who could resist such stylish art work and the lure of DJ Colin Crocodile Clewes?
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A few years later, mid-1970s, came Tito's Bar operated by Robert Marton at the Marina Hotel, Marine Drive. Tito's presented big TV stars of the day including Tommy Cooper, Des O'Connor and Bob Monkhouse.
The following card autographed by Windsor Davies & Don Estelle is from their appearance at Tito's in 1977 -
