With 8,000 members and packed dance floors every weekend, the 69 Club became one of the biggest nightlife success stories the Isle of Wight has ever seen.
By the mid-1960s, the 69 Club had amassed an astonishing 8,000 members, growing from a simple idea into one of the Isle of Wight’s biggest nightlife success stories.
At the heart of the story were The Cherokees, one of the Isle of Wight’s most popular beat groups. By the early 1960s they had built a loyal following and were appearing regularly at venues across the Island.
Their big opportunity came at the Royal York Hotel in Ryde when a London promoter found himself without a band following a late cancellation. The Cherokees stepped in at short notice and the evening proved such a success that hotel proprietor Les Meddick agreed to let the musicians organise future events themselves.
Over drinks in the Royal York’s public bar, the band and their supporters came up with the idea of a members-only organisation aimed at young people. The result was the 69 Club. Exactly where the unusual name came from remains unclear, with one of its founders later jokingly remarking: “Don’t ask”. Whatever its origins, the name soon became known across the Island.
The formula worked beyond anyone’s expectations. Young Islanders flocked to join while holidaymakers visiting Ryde happily paid a shilling (5p) for life membership. Membership cards became prized possessions and the dances regularly attracted large crowds.
For many who attended, those evenings remain unforgettable.
One former member recalled:
“I was still at school waiting to do my GCEs and CSEs and the Royal York, ie the 69 Club, was the best place to go on a Saturday night!”
Another still associates the club with a particular record:
“My favourite song which was always played, Ain’t That Peculiar by Marvin Gaye, still is one of my favourite songs. I’m always transported back to those heady, exciting Saturday nights whenever I hear it. I can remember the whole set up like it was yesterday.”
Success soon encouraged the organisers to think bigger. When the Royal York ballroom became unavailable for one summer season, they turned their attention to the Seagull Ballroom at the end of Ryde Pier.
With barely 2½ weeks before opening night, the founders pooled £500 of their own savings and worked around the clock repainting walls, redecorating ceilings and preparing bars. Friends and family joined the effort as they transformed the venue.
The gamble paid off. The Seagull Ballroom became one of the Island’s premier entertainment venues and helped cement the 69 Club’s reputation. Although The Cherokees remained at the heart of the organisation, the club increasingly attracted major mainland performers to the Isle of Wight.
Acts appearing under the 69 Club banner included The Move, Fairport Convention, The Moody Blues and Mud, bringing major names to Island audiences.
Before long, the organisation was promoting events at venues across the Island including Ventnor Winter Gardens, the Manor House at Lake and the Oasis in Ryde, evolving from a local club night into an entertainment operation spanning much of the Isle of Wight.
The club flourished during what many remember as a golden age for Island nightlife. Looking back on the era, one former member reflected:
“Those days of the 1960s were such happy times, we had jobs, apprenticeships and great future expectations, fantastic nightlife here on the Island, a wonderful time to be young.
“Over the years since we have seen the decline of everything, many of those wonderful venues have gone, live music seems a thing of the past and young people today have nothing to look forward to, no job security and no nightlife.”
The Cherokees became local legends. One former member summed up the feelings of many when he said:
“We have lost 3 of the 4 members of The Cherokees and we will never see the like of them again.”
By 1970, changing tastes and the rise of discos were bringing the live-band era to a close.
Yet memories of the club remain as strong as ever. One former regular, who now lives opposite the former Royal York site, still looks back fondly on those nights:
“I used to go to the 69 Club when it was at the Royal York Hotel and have now lived in a flat on the other side of the road for the last 30 years.
“I’ve sadly watched it slowly become more and more of a crumbling wreck. But even in the state it’s in now, I can still remember the good days listening to The Cherokees and generally having a brilliant time.”
The Royal York has vanished, the Seagull Ballroom is long gone and 3 of The Cherokees have passed away. Yet for those who packed the dancefloor on Saturday nights and carried a 69 Club membership card, the memories remain as vivid as ever.
Do you remember the 69 Club, The Cherokees or dancing at the 69 Club? Share your memories in the comments below.
