I wouldn't normally bother with reports from places like this but Snobs is a bit of a legend of Birmingham. Opened way back in 1972 it is surely one of the countries most long lived and well known nightclubs. Its certainly one i have spent many a night in myself and have some pretty vivid memory of, both good and not so good!
The club was first opened in the summer of 1972 by the Berrow brothers, who also owned the new romantic 'Rum Runner' venue in the city. Later it was taken on by Gary Daniel, who transformed the city centre club into the indie venue it has been for 20 years. Gary was still the owner when he died, aged just 40, in 2001. Current owners Bob Hasian and Wayne Tracey bought it off his family in 2002. In September 2014 the club moved premises to the corner of Hurst Street and Smallbrook Queensway leaving the original location in the basement of Beneficial House on Suffolk Street Queensway to fall derelict.
The club had two rooms, this is the larger of the two where they played more up to date indie and borderline 'pop' tunes. Oh and it was always the same tunes! Part of Snobs's success, atleast in latter years, is that you always know what you're getting!
Final night was on Sunday 21 September 2014. On the first night in 72 everyone was given a free tea cup and saucer and salmon was on the menu! Clubs have changed!!
The second smaller room where they played older tunes from the 60s and 70s
The two rooms were linked by this mirrored corridor, note the red and green alarm lights on the ceiling. Something i never noticed before!
The Dj booth in the smaller room with one of the famous 'bobbly walls' in the background. Its said the decor was based on Dr Who and had not changed since the club opened.
Bottom of the entrance stairs, the toilets were as fresh as ever!
The stairs from the top, the wall behind used to have many plaster cast faces but these were removed and auctioned off when it closed.
The entrance lobby with its strange hexagonal slopey table now upended
One thing people will usually remember about Snobs is the old tills. They took some with them to the new venue i think but also left one behind!
Cheap drinks indeed, small bottles for a quid and if you wanted gin and tonic you were better ff with gin and lemonade. Its was a pound cheaper!
One of the main reasons i wanted to go back in here was to have a poke around the bits you were never allowed to go when it was open. In truth there wasn't too much to see but it was still cool to look. This is the beer store!
The DJ Booth had an interesting panel. The helicopter was a original lighting rig above the small dance floor. The Whizz line im not so sure!
The last posters in the ticket office
Some pretty epic reels of old tickets too. This logo was before my time there.
The old cloak room.. Lots a few jackets in here!
Some classic posters, 'Loaded' was the big Saturday indie night. Closing at 2am?? Shows its age!
The old smoking area from out back. Dont think i ever visited before the smoking ban came along but after it did we always used to go up and smoke on the street which was an experience and a half! I guess the council got pissed off with the localised street party every night and made them open up the back yard insted.
Lastly it would have been rude not to pop up that fire escape stairs to the roof for a view over the city centre. The whole building is now up for development but theres nothing much else to see in there.
Farewell old friend!
The club was first opened in the summer of 1972 by the Berrow brothers, who also owned the new romantic 'Rum Runner' venue in the city. Later it was taken on by Gary Daniel, who transformed the city centre club into the indie venue it has been for 20 years. Gary was still the owner when he died, aged just 40, in 2001. Current owners Bob Hasian and Wayne Tracey bought it off his family in 2002. In September 2014 the club moved premises to the corner of Hurst Street and Smallbrook Queensway leaving the original location in the basement of Beneficial House on Suffolk Street Queensway to fall derelict.
The club had two rooms, this is the larger of the two where they played more up to date indie and borderline 'pop' tunes. Oh and it was always the same tunes! Part of Snobs's success, atleast in latter years, is that you always know what you're getting!
Final night was on Sunday 21 September 2014. On the first night in 72 everyone was given a free tea cup and saucer and salmon was on the menu! Clubs have changed!!
The second smaller room where they played older tunes from the 60s and 70s
The two rooms were linked by this mirrored corridor, note the red and green alarm lights on the ceiling. Something i never noticed before!
The Dj booth in the smaller room with one of the famous 'bobbly walls' in the background. Its said the decor was based on Dr Who and had not changed since the club opened.
Bottom of the entrance stairs, the toilets were as fresh as ever!
The stairs from the top, the wall behind used to have many plaster cast faces but these were removed and auctioned off when it closed.
The entrance lobby with its strange hexagonal slopey table now upended
One thing people will usually remember about Snobs is the old tills. They took some with them to the new venue i think but also left one behind!
Cheap drinks indeed, small bottles for a quid and if you wanted gin and tonic you were better ff with gin and lemonade. Its was a pound cheaper!
One of the main reasons i wanted to go back in here was to have a poke around the bits you were never allowed to go when it was open. In truth there wasn't too much to see but it was still cool to look. This is the beer store!
The DJ Booth had an interesting panel. The helicopter was a original lighting rig above the small dance floor. The Whizz line im not so sure!
The last posters in the ticket office
Some pretty epic reels of old tickets too. This logo was before my time there.
The old cloak room.. Lots a few jackets in here!
Some classic posters, 'Loaded' was the big Saturday indie night. Closing at 2am?? Shows its age!
The old smoking area from out back. Dont think i ever visited before the smoking ban came along but after it did we always used to go up and smoke on the street which was an experience and a half! I guess the council got pissed off with the localised street party every night and made them open up the back yard insted.
Lastly it would have been rude not to pop up that fire escape stairs to the roof for a view over the city centre. The whole building is now up for development but theres nothing much else to see in there.
Farewell old friend!
