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The Polish Club - 7 Clairmont Gardens

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If you were still a Mod in Glasgow in the mid to late 1980s then there’s every chance you went to the Polish Club on Clairmont Gardens. Tucked out the way, just off Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, this venue wasn’t the easiest of places to find if you hadn’t been before. The reason I’m saying this, is the fact I couldn’t find it myself and that was by scooter. The One Up was still in existence at this time, but was mainly getting used by the Mods through the day at weekends. Most weekends went by with at least some trouble happening.

First impressions, was nice venue with cheap bar prices. A small amount of steps then one was at the front door, upon entry, there was the members bar and diner on the left. The guys toilets in the basement, and the main dance hall was on the upper level. A long rounded carpeted stairwell, at the top most weeks was Stevie and Speno taking the cash, who were by this point the elder statesmen of the Mod scene.

The venue was well laid out, big mirror on one wall to create the impression the venue was bigger, the bar was beside the ladies toilets, dancefloor at the front, with a small stage were the decks were set up, with Big John Nally being the resident D.J. and a small seating area just off the dancefloor,where one could go with the ladies. For a change, this was a smart venue with clean decor, with a capacity for about 150. The Roadrunners Mod Scooter Club, started these nights on Saturday 17.

May 1986 and they ran on a fortnightly basis. The only downside was the 12 o’clock finish, a few nights were tried on the Friday with a later opening of 1 o’clock, but unfortunately these nights were not as busy. Doors opened at seven and the venue was jumping by eight. It’s always nice to see a busy dancefloor, makes the evening pass away quicker.

These nights were often packed out, with Mods travelling from all over Scotland to come and have a good night out. Many friendships were made with the Mods from Aberdeen, Dundee, Falkirk, Edinburgh, Glasgow and the surrounding areas. Music policy was mainly 1960s Beat, Soul, Ska, Jazz and Motown and there was still no sign of any disco lights. One night they did go high-tec, traffic cone with an orange light spinning to the sound of Dave Brubecks “Take Five”, was this the start of the Jazz Mods ? It was also not uncommon to have up to a dozen scooters outside, a rare sight indeed at this period in the Glasgow Mod history.

Other great tunes getting played was Jimmy McGriff “All About My Girl”, Jimmy Smith “The Cat”, The Action “I’ll Keep On Holding On”, along with the old favourites, There’s A Ghost In My House, Shout, Israelites.

As with all good Mod nights, before you know it everyone is dripping with sweat and heading off back to George Square for the night bus home, or on the odd occasion, a party ! Looking back one of the best things about the Polish Club was the lack of trouble, everybody out to enjoy themselves. I believe there was only two or three incidents within a two year period, which wasn’t bad, and one of them resulted in the scooters getting kicked over.

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written by N.G. MODS \\ tags: , ,

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