Legendary Chesterfield nightclub Aquarius celebrated in special new book

The ‘Dirty Stop Out’s Guide to 1980s Chesterfield – Aquarius Edition’ by local author Neil Anderson nearly sold out within its first weekend of publication, with orders coming in from as far away as Canada and Australia.

The Aquarius nightclub in Sheffield Road first opened in 1972 as a cabaret club and played host to some of the biggest stars of the era.

By the 1980s it was arguably more popular for its nightclub, which enjoyed packed houses every weekend for much of the era with coaches turning up from right around the region.

Author Neil Anderson said: “The Aquarius was such a massive part of the Chesterfield night scene for so many years and it has been fantastic that the book has had such a great reaction so far.

“I think the book has been a much needed distraction from the present lockdown situation and given people a chance to re-live nights out of old.”

The club gave Cannon and Ball their first headline billing in the 1970s and saw everyone from Marti Caine to Bob Monkhouse grace the stage.

It even enjoyed a visit from famed British actor Oliver Reed.

Neil Anderson said: “Few clubs anywhere created memories like Aquarius.

“It was a byword for after dark enjoyment and entertainment for tens of thousands of people down the decades.

“Scores of buses used to leave the town centre every Friday and Saturday as they ferried the hordes in the direction of the glitzy nightspot.”

The Aquarius outlasted scores of other venues in the town before finally shutting for the last time in the 1990s.

The ‘Dirty Stop Out’s Guide to 1980s Chesterfield – Aquarius Edition’ is available from www.dirtystopouts.com for £13.95.

Relive some memories and try and spot yourself in photos of the nightclub here:

www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/retro/can-you-spot-yourself-these-retro-pictures-taken-inside-legendary-chesterfield-nightclub-1385690