Legendary Chesterfield nightclub Aquarius celebrated in new Dirty Stop Out's Guide

Chesterfield revellers who recall dancing the night away at the ‘legendary’ Aquarius club are being asked to share their memories.
Tim Paget
By Tim Paget
Published 20th Jan 2020, 11:45 BST
Updated 20th Jan 2020, 18:08 BST
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Author Neil Anderson’s latest Dirty Stop Out's Guide is all about the famous Sheffield Road venue in its heyday – and fans of the club are being asked to contribute to the book.

Neil 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.

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MORE: ‘90s reunion set to be sell out success for Chesterfield's Dirty Stop Outs

Crowds enjoy the Aquarius cabaret in the Chesterfield venue's heyday.Crowds enjoy the Aquarius cabaret in the Chesterfield venue's heyday.
Crowds enjoy the Aquarius cabaret in the Chesterfield venue's heyday.

"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 venue first opened in the early 1970s as a cabaret club and played host to some of the biggest stars of the era.

It was the venue that gave Cannon & Ball their first headline billing and saw everyone from Marti Caine to Bob Monkhouse grace the stage.

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

Aquarius in the 1980s.Aquarius in the 1980s.
Aquarius in the 1980s.

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

MORE: Were YOU a dirty stop-out in Chesterfield in the nineties?

Now Neil is after your memories and pictures for his forthcoming book the ‘Dirty Stop Out's Guide to 1980s Chesterfield - The Aquarius Edition'.

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

The Aquarius in the 1970s.The Aquarius in the 1970s.
The Aquarius in the 1970s.

The club’s former owner, John Williamson, died in August 2016, and his loss was described as ‘making the town emptier’.

Neil Anderson has previously penned best-selling 1970s and 1980s versions of the Dirty Stop Out's Guide as well as working with Pete Dodd on the 1960s version.

Neil can be contacted here

The book is set to be launched at an Aquarius reunion at Real Time Live on Friday, April 10. Tickets are £8 each and available from Real Time Live or here

Related topics:Chesterfield