Wigan Album
PUBS
20 CommentsPhoto: RON HUNT
Item #: 32947
It's the Douglas Bank now
Only went there once with lads from work C. 1989, seem to think the start turn was a topless stripper.
A sad time in Wigan's social history. A time of unglamorous, cheap, and sordid entertainment. A time when queers became acceptable, but in a condescending and cold environment. A time to be almost ashamed of actually being in such a sad and dreadful place. Led by a drag queen who befriended troubled and neurotic young women. The men? Hang your heads in shame of the fact that you dared to attend week after week week. You couldn't tap in there - it wasn't that kind of atmosphere. I liken it to a Victorian Gin House, but selling nasty foul smelling beer instead of gin. The gin actually arrived some thirty odd years later when the phantoms of this establishment were long dead. Leaving not a trace of their existence. Thank God.
Jarvo, I form an impression that you must be completely bigoted or have just had a very sheltered life; if there was anything unglamorous, cheap and sordid about Clown's it was a or sign of the times, the whole Thatcher era could be summed up in that way.
Bigoted? Naaah, just being brutally honest. About time folk owned up to their true feelings and opinions. All this PC stuff gets my goat. Clowns was a dive. No more no less.
I take it you didn't like Clowns Bar then Jarvo ?
Thanks for uploading this picture.
From reading the comments on here, I fully appreciate Clowns was maybe not everyone's cup of tea.
I vaguely remember the place but I never graced it. I do think that certainly back in the 1990s and early 2000s, there were a few 'entertainment' pubs peppered around the Wigan area.
Mr Earls at Ince and the Cricketers at Poolstock were also similar venues as they were 'out of town' nightspots that offered an alternative evening social scene rather than the usual King Street crawl.
It makes me wonder if it's present form as the Douglas Bank will ever reopen once this Covid fiasco is finally behind us?
CJ
Being called "Douglas Bank", you'd think it was near to the 'Douglas' (the river/brook of that name). But it's nowhere near the bank of the Douglas.
How can such a fluent and clearly creative writer be a bigot? That is self harming in the purest form.
rainh, I have to agree with your use of the word "Creative" when referring to Jarvo's writing skills.
It was called the 'Douglas Bank' because it was near the site of the colliery of the same name.
Douglas Bank, cracking pub i dont live anywere near, but visited regular for a very decent pint of Holts best bitter, and will be back as soon as we a allowed..
It was a great night out I loved going week after week and didn’t live in Wigan , better than the crap now , life is what you make it .
I, along with many others actually thought Clowns bar was a fantastic night out. The atmosphere was great and so were the people who worked/ entertained there. I don’t recollect anything about the drinks as I was too busy enjoying myself dancing. Davinia was a great drag queen with a heart of gold who raised lots of money for the underprivileged children of Wigan.
PC stuff also gets my goat as do ugly bigots.
I am being brutally honest with my comments.
Jarvo, I was in the place often and I don't remember ever seeing any strippers. It was classed as a 'Fun Bar', which had become a relatively new phase to attract custom, and I must admit, bar staff did dress provocatively and had sessions of dancing on top of the bar surface.
I went often for one main reason, it was quite near to where some of my close friends lived; therefore, it was convenient.
Additionally, I'm sure that they served until midnight and this gave us an extra hour of drinking to the other pubs.
What other names has the bar used in the passed, I seem to think Wigan ath supporters club, also seem to remember serving food at one time
It was at one time a 'breakaway' Wigan Athletic Supporters club Harry Lyon was the steward
back in the day it was st andrews labour club.
Was this pub previously called "Traditionals"? If not, where was Traditionals located? I remember going there in the 90s and Nick Du Toit was the landlord
it was traditionals at one time