Manor Lounge (Stockport)

[Sent in July 28. 2009 - Paraphrased from the publication: ‘When Stockport Rocked!’ by Beryl Lomas] In 1963 local Stockport business Reg Pickstock opened the Manor Lounge. The Manor was a subterranean club, housed in the former café of Wellington Picture House on Wellington Road South, Stockport. Harry Clarke a local band manager and promoter joined the Manor staff in 1965. He was employed as a general ‘Mr. Fix-it’ - best described these days as Operations or Venue Manager. The Manor held in excess of 1,000 people and surprisingly had no license to sell alcohol. Reg and Harry always preferred live music at the Manor, but they did have D-jays with regular spots, namely: John Lewis and Jimmy Cohen. On the occasions with no live music booked - the manor would have ‘Disc Nights’. By he end of 1965 Harry decided to go his own way. Reg managed the club until 1967 when he closed the Manor and opened the Tabernacle (The Fab Tab - later to become Sgt. Peppers). In the 4 years duration of the Manor Lounge - it staged top-flight artist. Here are a few: Mersey-beats, Herman’s Hermits, Cilla Black, Lulu, Tom Jones, P. J. Proby (US), The Who, The Small Faces, The Byrds (US), The Kinks, Jimi Hendrix (US), Donovan, Them (with Van Morrison), Walker Brothers (US), Band of Joy (with Robert Plant), Steam Packet (with Long John Baldry & Rod Stewart), Cat Sevens, Cream, Jeff Beck, Pink Floyd ...and the list goes on.