Top Rank Suite

Top Rank Suite was the name given to a chain of nightclubs in the United Kingdom owned by the Rank Organisation. They were sometimes known as Top Rank Ballrooms.

Venues

Brighton
Main article: Pryzm Brighton

The Brighton Top Rank Suite opened in October 1965. It was rebranded in 1973 plus referb and called KingsWest. It was refurbished in 1990 and renamed the Event, and then refurbished and renamed Event II in 1996. In 2007 another refurbishment led to it reopening as Oceana, and later as Pryzm.[1]

Cardiff

Located at Queen Street in Cardiff, Wales. It opened in 1963 and hosted acts such as The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and U2. After a series of name changes the venue closed in 1982 and was demolished in 2005.[2]

Deep Purple's Mark 1 lineup played their last gig ever at the Cardiff location.

Croydon

The 1960s saw the Top Rank active in the major UK town of Croydon. During the following decade it was rebranded as Cinatra's, which was an equally popular venue for many years. The reputation of the club began to decline in the 1990s, and eventually so did its trade. Cinatra's closed its doors for the final time in 2004 & has been vacant & boarded up ever since.

Reading

The Reading Top Rank Ballroom opened in October 1967, with the building being demolished in 2015 to make way for the Station Hill redevelopment.[3][4]

Southampton

It opened in the mid 1960s, was renamed The Mayfair, and closed in the late 1980s.[5][6]

Watford

The Watford Top Rank Suite still operates as a nightclub. It was subsequently renamed Bailey's, then Paradise Lost, Kudos, Destiny, Oceana, and most recently Pryzm.[7]

References
  1. "Top rank to Oceana". The Argus. 9 October 2007. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  2. Hutchinson, Clare. "When Cardiff had club class". Wales Online. Retrieved 2016-03-17.
  3. Walker, Ed (9 April 2015). "Pick of the Past: When Top Rank ballroom was at its full pomp and majesty". Trinity Mirror Southern. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  4. "Top Rank Ballroom iPad Sleeve". Vintage Photos Online. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  5. Hamilton, Keith (30 December 2008). "Top Rank Suite memories". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  6. Kerins, Dan (21 February 2014). "21 long forgotten nights clubs in Southampton". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  7. "KajaGooGoo, Watford and Baileys Nightclub". Kajafax. 30 April 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2016.

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