Vintageann 66 Posted July 30, 2014 Report Share Posted July 30, 2014 This venue, formerly of Nuthall Road, gets mentioned here and there but I think merits it's own topic. My first recollection was of going to ballroom dancing classes there, must have been late 1950's. It was a great show venue and some fabulous acts appeared there. But it was also a hot spot for parties and celebrations. I came across the bill for my/our wedding reception in November 1969. 56 guests at 20 shillings each (A pound for a sit down meal!!!) plus 3 at 14 shillings (must have been kids). Sherry for the toast...9 shillings. The deposit was £5. The whole event for a little over £62. And it was just perfect. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave 48 847 Posted July 30, 2014 Report Share Posted July 30, 2014 For years we had our firms Christmas dinner and dance there. I believe it was owned by the Stevenson family and I went to school with Phillip Stevenson. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveN 1,118 Posted July 30, 2014 Report Share Posted July 30, 2014 I remember when it was the Aspley Cinema then it closed for a few months in 1956 and reopened as the Commodore until 1958 when it closed as a cinema Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LizzieM 9,507 Posted July 30, 2014 Report Share Posted July 30, 2014 Vintageann, # 1 I've just searched out the invoice for our wedding reception at the Commodore Banqueting Rooms, held in May 1975. Charges per person rose more than 100% in that 6 years since your event, AND we'd gone decimal and were charged 8% VAT extra. 76 guests @ £2.30 1 child @ £1.52 Sherry Reception (6.5 bottles @ £1.85 each) Asti Toast (13 bottles at £2.50 each) Room Charge @ £6.00 Total including VAT £238.50 It doesn't seem much but at that time I was on a decent wage of £36 per week. 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MelissaJKelly 2,121 Posted July 30, 2014 Report Share Posted July 30, 2014 And my friend has just paid £1,900 for her venue alone for a measly 6 hours! If only the Commodore was still around today! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave 48 847 Posted July 30, 2014 Report Share Posted July 30, 2014 And my friend has just paid £1,900 for her venue alone for a measly 6 hours! If only the Commodore was still around today! It is Melissa as a Sainsbury's Local 😢 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LizzieM 9,507 Posted July 30, 2014 Report Share Posted July 30, 2014 and I expect your friend will push the boat out and have a champagne toast and not Asti Spumante like we had !! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
carni 10,094 Posted July 30, 2014 Report Share Posted July 30, 2014 Asti Spumante, That's posh enough for me Lizzie. You reminded me of a little story. I think this would be alright in (The Embarrassing Moments Thread), but it went on for a few years before anyone put me right. When we kept our Beer Off in the 1970s, one of our good sellers was Asti Spumante. I would recommend it to customers as a very nice reasonably priced, Sparkling Wine, and tried to sound as if I knew what i was talking about. It must have been about 5yrs before some one laughed one day at my pronunciation. All of those years, I had been calling it Asti Sputamen. The right letters, in the wrong order! No wonder I got some funny looks! 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
katyjay 5,091 Posted July 31, 2014 Report Share Posted July 31, 2014 Vintageann, I also went to ballroom dancing there, on Saturdays. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benjamin1945 16,153 Posted July 31, 2014 Report Share Posted July 31, 2014 The Smith bros.who ran Radford Ametuer Boxing club' used to put alot of shows on there,a nice venue. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
catfan 14,793 Posted July 31, 2014 Report Share Posted July 31, 2014 I took the Ex there to see The Grumbleweeds & Rolf Harris, NOT at the same time ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
darkazana 1,736 Posted July 31, 2014 Report Share Posted July 31, 2014 As a youngster I used to go there as part of a show that my ballet school put on in aid of The children's charity Variety. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DJBrenton 738 Posted July 31, 2014 Report Share Posted July 31, 2014 I can one-up you on the reception front Lizzie. When they had the Tudor Bar at the side of the Commodore, my brother-in-law to be and I used to win and come 2nd in the quiz every week. First prize was a 3 course meal for 2 and 2nd was a bottle of wine to take away or have with a meal. We saved up all the vouchers and eventually i booked the whole Tudor Bar for my reception. 60 guests for a 3 course meal with a bottle of wine between each two. Cost - zero. It made sense to me but I don't think my wife ever quite forgave me for being so cheap. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bilbraborn 1,594 Posted July 31, 2014 Report Share Posted July 31, 2014 Everywhere I went all over the country there was someone who knew the Commodore. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
catfan 14,793 Posted July 31, 2014 Report Share Posted July 31, 2014 DJB, There's nowt wrong wi saving a few bob ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,464 Posted July 31, 2014 Report Share Posted July 31, 2014 How it looked in the 1970s. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DJBrenton 738 Posted July 31, 2014 Report Share Posted July 31, 2014 I wonder what the General's sons are doing now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomlinson 879 Posted July 31, 2014 Report Share Posted July 31, 2014 It was a bit upper class in the days of the Aspley cinema matinees. It was 3p in the stalls at the Forum; 6p at the Aspley. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benjamin1945 16,153 Posted July 31, 2014 Report Share Posted July 31, 2014 Imagine already paid 1/- then your date would want an Ice Cream, damn Gold diggers ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bamber 128 Posted July 31, 2014 Report Share Posted July 31, 2014 I'll never forget attending a friend's wedding reception at The Commodore. She was marrying a Nottingham-born Pole and her father (very unwisely as it turned out) decided to provide a free bar. His credit card took a hell of a hammering as their side of the reception proceeded to drink the place dry. He's probably still paying the tab off to this day. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
loppylugs 8,429 Posted July 31, 2014 Report Share Posted July 31, 2014 And my friend has just paid £1,900 for her venue alone for a measly 6 hours! If only the Commodore was still around today! Wow! Talk about inflation. My first house only cost me 1000 pounds more than that. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MelissaJKelly 2,121 Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 Gosh!! How times have changed!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mgread1200 141 Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 Went to see the late Bernard Manning there sometime in the nineties, The venue was termed a "Gentlemans evening!" leave you to guess what else was on as well as Bernard. Remembering some of the things being called out there were not many gentlemen there I can tell you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomlinson 879 Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 Went to see the late Bernard Manning there sometime in the nineties, The venue was termed a "Gentlemans evening!" leave you to guess what else was on as well as Bernard. Remembering some of the things being called out there were not many gentlemen there I can tell you. Some years ago there was a T.V. programme, made by himself,about his death and there were scenes showing him after death. Clever stuff but the most self indulgent load of guff I've ever seen./quote] Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fernilee567 33 Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 I had my wedding reception at the Commodore in 1967 I do not have my receipt after all this time, but I I guess the charges were very much as yours Kate. It is sad to see the state of it now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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