The Chorlton billiard hall …. St Mary’s Hospital …… and that much loved night spot

I am back with that forgotten billiard hall on Wilbraham Road and a series of twisty turney paths that reinforce that old idea that history is messy.

The front of the former billiard hall, 2024

First, the billiard hall which stands behind the two shops, Admiral, and Royal Cod.

I can date the hall back to 1929 and may be able to push that back into the 1920s.

Just when it closed its doors is as yet unclear, but in 1929 it belonged to W.R. Bridgens and Co.

And a William Roy Bridgen and his wife Winnie were living at 163 Barlow Moor Road rom at least 1927 through to 1931, and there are references to him in various newspapers in the early 1830s competing in golf competitions.

Alas so far that is it except for an obituary recording the death of Winnie in 1955.

But it’s early days I am confident he and Winnie will come out of the shadows with more research.

And already I know that in 1931 he was renting and paying rates for rooms at 64 Oxford Street, three doors up from St Mary’s Hospital.

Acropolis Restaurant and the  Palace Snack Bar and Continental Club, 1974

Now by 1964 numbers 66 and 64 were the Acropolis Restaurant and the  Palace Snack Bar and Continental Club.

And the name the Continental Club or “Conti” will immediately chime a chord with anyone of a certain age who liked late night drinking with a bit of dancing and questionable food.

Sadly, I missed going there, because it closed before I arrived in Manchester, but like Lazarus the club rose again in the basement of an old building in Harter Street, taking the name of the “New Conti” and so was born a place I inhabited for a great chunk of the 1970s.

A friend we introduced to the place could only mutter “a bus shelter with beer”, but it was more than that, and a favourite dive of doctors, nurses, teachers and plenty more.

It must be 40 more years since I last went and it has gone, although just when I have no idea.

Acropolis Restaurant, 1974

But there are plenty of stories out there of both clubs and a slight dispute about whether the old closed before the new opened.  I have no idea, but trying to answer that question falls into that comment about the 1960s, “if you can remember the 60s you weren’t there”.

But there will be more, because my friend Antony whose aunt owned the Acropolis Restaurant is digging deeper into the story as I write.

So, there will be more linking one social club in Chorlton those far more memorable venues which were the Old and New Cont.

Location, Chorlton and Town

Pictures, the front of our old billiard Hall, 2024, from the collection of Andrew Simpson  the Old Conti Club, 1974, Acc No. 113181 and a similar shot, 1974,  Acc No. 113181. and the hall in 1959 by A.H. Downes, m17486, courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, http://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php?session=pass*

 The Billiard hall in 1959 

*And here there seems a possible hiccup, because both images have the same accession