Wigan Casino

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The Wigan Casino has been named by a BBC review as one of the most famous clubs in the North of England[1]. It was a major venue for Northern Soul, and opened in 1973, having previously been a popular dance-hall. Many famous soul performers appeared there, like Jackie Wilson, and a TV documentary about the venue was filmed in 1977. The Casino shut its doors for the final time in 1981, and the building itself burned down a year later. Russ Winstanley (the Casino's DJ and founder) and David Nowell wrote the book The Wigan Casino Story, which was published in 1996. A stage play about the Casino years, Once upon a time in Wigan, written by Mick Martin, debuted in February 2003 at the Contact Theatre, Manchester, and has since toured nationally. Ironically, the 'Casino' was hated, in its heyday, by the local council, who tried to close the venue down. However, that same council now promote the memory of the 'Casino', purely because of its popularity.

The influential American music magazine 'Billboard' officially voted it 'The Best Disco in the World' ahead of New York's 'Studio 54' in 1978[2].

[edit] References

  1. ^ Happy Anniversary Wigan Casino, from bbc.co.uk, retrieved 4 February 2006
  2. ^ Northern Soul - What it's all about? from goldsoul.co.uk, retrieved 4 March 2006
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