ISLE OF WIGHT NIGHTCLUBS: BARNEY’S ROADHOUSE – THE MILITARY ROAD NIGHTSPOT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE

In the first of our returning series on Isle of Wight nightclubs, Island Echo examines West Wight’s Barney’s Roadhouse…

Now that the Isle of Wight’s nightclubs have all but disappeared, it’s hard to imagine that the West Wight village of Brighstone (population 1,175) had not 1, but 2 nightclubs before the turn of the millennium.

In addition to Barney’s, there was also Casa Espanol – located on the road to Newport – which had a glass floor and later became the Countryman pub.

Article continues below this advertisement

Both Barney’s and Casa Espanol are sadly no more – replaced by residential developments and holiday lets.

But how could such a remote spot far from the madding crowd have attracted late-night revellers…?

Drink-driving laws were more relaxed half a century ago. Also, young people were more prepared to travel by shank’s pony – some even walked home to Freshwater in the early hours of the morning.

Barney’s is fondly remembered by its former clientele.

Article continues below this advertisement

Comments from its former patrons include:

“It was the only thing Brighstone had going for it.”

“This is the first place I got properly drunk… such a fond memory.”

“Oh! “Happy days! Spending all week deciding which leggings/baggy top combo to wear, making up rubbish dance routines, seeing the same people every week and dancing to the same songs (Don’t you Forget About Me, Tainted Love ‘skilfully’ mixed into Baby Love by the amazing DJ).”

Barney’s was the spot many of the older generation of West Wight had their first experiences of the opposite sex…

“We would all still be virgins if it wasn’t for the hallowed halls of Barney’s.”

“It started for me with Junior Barney’s, where we could strut and show the ladies all the moves to woo them into a Frenchie and a grope outside round the back.

“First taste of night life! Sitting on the cannons drinking lemonade, snogging in dark corners or outside round the back. Those were the days.”

Barney’s Roadhouse began as a wooden hotel named Sea Breeze, that was used as an Officer’s Mess during World War II.

Sadly, on 17th April 1942, a German bomber scored a direct hit on Sea Breeze, killing 10 men in their beds.

The area is said to be haunted by these lost souls.

In 1977, what was now Barney’s Roadhouse more than doubled in size when it was extended.

The extension was challenged by the Council for the Protection of Rural England, who stated that this type of building should not be permitted on “a sensitive part of the heritage coast”.

In 1978, landlord John Barsdell obtained a music and dancing licence for Barney’s until 01:00 Monday to Saturday. However, the licence was granted despite the opposition of the owners of nearby November Cottage and Grange Farm, who objected to the loud music.

Barney’s Roadhouse was involved in controversy in 1980 when they refused admittance to Cllr Morris Barton – who later became leader of the Isle of Wight Council.

Cllr Barton said:

“I can fully understand the management wanting to keep out trouble makers, but to have a blanket rule about leather jackets seems rather silly.

“All sorts of people, of all ages, wear them.”

In the 80s, there was disorder at Barney’s on a regular basis.

In 1981, for example, barman John Dedman and doorman Keith Porter were acquitted of occasioning actual bodily harm on a customer at Isle of Wight Crown Court.

The improvements to Barney’s had increased its value, and in 1983 it went up for sale for £225,000 (£750,000 in today’s values).

In 1990, then landlady – former model Julie Clifton – was nominated by her customers for Gordon’s Pub Landlady of the Year.

In 1993, Barney’s was taken over by professional dancers Phil and Christine Diment. That year, Phil raised £120 for Red Nose Day by lying in a bath of tomato soup for 4 hours.

In 1999, Barney’s was bought by Kevin Franklin and Russell Perfect, who intended to spend £150,000 on the latest state-of-the-art sound and lighting and changed the name to the Millennium Nightclub.

Millennium had dance nights called Storm for the over-18s on Fridays and a commercial chart dance night called Kiss the Future for the over-21s.

Kevin Franklin said:

“We feel there is a need for something on this western side of the Island.”

Sadly, Millennium was not a success. In 2000, its late-night entertainment licence was refused on noise and fire safety grounds.

The owner of nearby Grange Farm claimed:

“There has been disturbance coming from Barney’s for more than 8 years. It is too far out, out of date and does not fit in with the area.”

In 2002, work started to convert Barney’s into 9 holiday homes, known as Sea Breezes, after the former hotel.

Did you go to Barney’s and what were your experiences? Let us know in the comments…