queens road

Who remembers Howard Swain Queens Road Hastings ?

Advert 1969

Roy Penfold… They had been trading for a very long time before then – even prior to 1890 as evidenced by this clipping from the Hastings and St Leonards Observer – Saturday 01 November 1890

supplied by Roy Penfold

Alan Esdaile… In the seventies remember Alan Cruttenden worked there.

Nadia Compagnone… I worked with Alan when it was Sussex Stationers in 1977. Queens Road was a great place to work then, so many characters living and working around there.

Chris Meachen… Used to love that shop….

Dave Nattress… As a young lad working in an Architects office and also attending the old Hastings College of Further Education with Iain Cobby, Paul Durrant, and Mick Kemp, all of us construction students, and all in Damaris, Howard Swain in Queens Road was an essential supplier of kit. Special drawing pens, paper, technical instruments, drawing instruments etc. etc. Remember it very well. Was up from Huckells and close to Fab Boutique and close to record shops. This part of Queens Road was thriving back then.

 

More of The Monkees – The Record Shop Hastings April 1967

Number one album in the UK 15th April 1967

Pauline Richards… Loved them. Used to rush home from school to watch their tv programme!

Dave Nattress… I did buy this – also the first – not played for many years. Gonna dust it off and it’ll be interesting to see how I feel about it. Of course, The Monkees as a product of Americana and a bugeoning TV and music industry were much hyped, but a situation sort of, of it’s time, lots of that going on with some UK pop bands also, but, lets be serious, some bands and albums needed promotion by one means or another. It is what it is – it was what it was!

Astral Club Queens Road Hastings 1975

Surprised they put opposite the cinema, when it was opposite The Disc Jockey record shop.

Dizz Corinne Ryder… Was it above Chelsea Girl?

Barry Upton… I think it was once Toffs night club ?

Dizz Corinne Ryder… that rings a bell, was just a bit too young to go though!

Maureen Fuller… The Astrel Club was where the Pamdor Club originally was above Chelsea girl entrance at the back. My ex husband Les Martin used to work their

Yvonne Cleland… I used to love the Astral Club! Late late nights and a free meal hahaha

Maureen Fuller… Can you remember the name of the lovely lady who cooked the late night suppers loved her curries?

Yvonne Cleland… I can’t, I’m sorry, but her spag bols and chicken in a basket were to die for! xx

Leigh Wieland-Boys… Yep – there regularly, always had the whitebait

Sam Rosewell… Was this Flamingo’s in the 80’s? (Not that I went in there, slightly too young!) Was a better scene back in the day….

Alan Esdaile… Yes, Sam.

Neal Hunter…It was great being a DJ there. Broke my leg falling down the stairs between the bar and disco at 1am on 22 Oct 1974 which was the day my son was born. Great days.

Tony Davis… was great Djing there with Merlins Music Box. Was it Betty that did the food?

Maureen Fuller… don’t think that was her name she was a Greek lady l think

Tony Court-holmes… used work behind the bar there

Ian Quinnell… AAHHHH good (but slightly vague) memories of those days

 

 

Pam Dor Coffee Bar – Early 60’s Hastings

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supplied by Peter Millington

Peter Millington….Eric behind the counter at the Pam Dor Early 1960’s.

Mick Knights….That’s the ever popular Eric, the owner, serving. I, along with just about every teenage lad, was banned by him at one time or another!! The Pam Dor had the first Discotec in Hastings, which was on the second floor, a place I never entered, nor did very many, as it soon closed. its second incarnation was the Astral club, which morfed into Toff’s.

Peter Pursglove….i did the door up there for a few years until it closed Alan ,Mollly Russell ran it ,busy little club

Tom Boyer….Great times, we loved it, a fabulous place to meet. Tom & Lin Boyer (nee White)

Sue Bartholomew (Nee Finch)… I remember the Pam Dor, it was the best place to go, we paid a shilling entrance and that also got you a coffee or a frothy hot chocolate, and sit in there for as long as you wanted, it was always busy and behind in Middle Street was a long line of Lambrettas or Vespas belonging to some young lad who was in the Pam Dor.

Colin Bell… Love this photo Pete, met my first ‘proper’ girlfriend there…happy days…

Mick Mepham… Who were your ‘improper’ ones Colin and are you still in touch with them?

Nicola Dobson… Spent a lot of time in there…I remember that seating area..they should have coffee bars again Im sure they would be popular!

Read morePam Dor Coffee Bar – Early 60’s Hastings

Pam Dor to Astral to Toffs Club 1976

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Andre Palfrey-Martin Collection

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Andre Palfrey-Martin Collection

Mick Knights…..Seem to recall it was the Astral first, which morfed into Toffs, which was an attempt to go up market, one question on the membership application form was “what car do you drive” I seem to remember putting Thomsons Taxis down!!!

Phil Gill….Toffs run by Margarite “Molly” Russell, the members only den of iniquity where I spent many happy late night hours in the late ’70s? Oooh, the stories I could tell…

Chris Meachen….. I remember ‘Toffs’ used to provide a ‘meal’ as a condition of their licence;- usually consisted of a kind of curried goo mostly filled with baked beans…

Andre Palfrey-martin…..Pamdor closed and the whole market changed it became Toffs in 1976

Danielle de Rijk….Does anyone know a dj who was working there sometimes with the name Bruce Furber? He must be about 54 years old now and he used to live on the Sedlescombe Road in St. Leonards. I’m a researcher for a Dutch television program who reunites friends all over the world, so please contact me if you have information about Bruce. mail: danielle.derijk@kro.nl

Flamingos Discotheque Queens Road Hastings – 1984

Who remembers Flamingo’s?

Matt Thomas…  remember of it but was too young to go in. Was thinking about this place recently and thought that it couldn’t have been very big inside

Peter Thomson… I remember it being there but never went in.

Dennis Torrance… Was it called something else before flamingos

Tony Davis… Amongst other things it was the Astral Club

Karen Sweatman… Remember where it was but was a wee whipper snapper and too young

Harry Randall… The Pamdor springs to mind that was opposite the Disc Jockey

Terry Hardwick… Toffs

Max Marriott… Yep, remember it well, my cousin worked behind the bar! Sarah Marriott remember this? Blast from the past or what! I remember tottering up those bloody stairs in my stilettos!

Sarah Marriott… Oh my goodness yes. God those stairs were lethal in heels

Kev Perry… Went there a few times

Pauline Richards… Was that the Pam dor then? Before

David Edwards… The Pamdor was at the bottom end of Queens Road about where Thomas Cooks is but the Disc Jockey of Big Al fame was half way up Queens Road on the right hand side. Remember the name of the Astral club but not where it was.

Alan Esdaile… Both right. Yes Pauline it was the Pam Dor and the Astral. and David, Disc Jockey was further up Queens Road at one stage and moved to the bottom of Queens Road

Martin Richter… used to go there on Monday nights

Read moreFlamingos Discotheque Queens Road Hastings – 1984