Down on the Brighton King’s Road, once upon a time the Kingswest. Just where Ben & Jerry’s and Costa Coffee now sit was once Brighton’s first fun bar.
When the average Brighton house was £30,000, the Albion were in the equivalent of the Premier League and a man made glass animals in a shop window down Queen’s Road. Coasters was the place to hang out for those then in their teens – and now in their fifties.
On Thursday 30 June you can once again lacquer your hair to within an inch of its life, break out your white stilettos and don your trouser suit. Coasters are having a one-off reunion at Pryzm, in the club’s bespoke eighties room.
The event was the brainchild of the late Jarrod Marchant who sadly passed away in March this year. Jarrod set up the Coasters Facebook page some years ago.
Coasters devotees Nicci Hargie and Simone Crossfield have taken over the reins and have worked hard to ensure Jarrod’s dream of a reunion will take place.
Another notable absentee will be flamboyant if not extrovert DJ Rory Steele. Rory sadly passed away in the late 1980s – a few years after the club closed. His friend Biba was hoping to make the event but is now sadly unable to do so.
Rory made Coasters what it was. Brighton’s youngsters were able to develop their own individuality – a vibe still associated with the town today.
The club was open from 1981 to 1986. The music progressed through the genres of rock, mod, punk and new romantic. A diverse mix of trendsetters would enjoy the hi-energy sounds and what Simone Crossfield described as Rory’s “outrageous personality”.
In fact the DJ could be described as the forerunner of karaoke with his brilliant takes on the music videos of Bananarama, Divine and Break Machine among others. In fact Bananarama appeared live at the club such was its diversity of entertainment.
The Coasters Facebook page has over 800 members. Many memories are shared of a time when perhaps Brighton was a simpler place to live but just as much fun as it is today.
Jarrod Marchant’s death was untimely and unexpected. Those involved desperately want to make the evening a tribute to him as well as to Rory Steele.
But also an evening to recreate, for one night, those heady days of the early eighties.
In the days when young Brightonians could be themselves, in a wonderful atmosphere. And engage in a sometimes, nowadays, little known unbridled emotion.
Pure unadulterated and innocent fun.
Tickets for the event on Thursday 30 June are available from Toby Cowling 07598 797184 and Pryzm 01273 710976 and cost £10. With a special eighties vodka and mixer for £3.50. They are also available via the Coasters reunion Facebook page.
The reunion organisers are indebted to Pryzm and Toby Cowling for helping to put the event on.
Snakebite and black was a popular drink. So was rum and black. And so were Malibu and coke and Southern Comfort and coke.
At the time Pryzm was called the Top Rank Suite and on the other side of West Street was Sherry’s which was renamed the Pink Coconut. The Queen Anne was next door. Coasters used to be Jenkinson’s, I think. Next door was Mr K’s, I think, which then became Busby’s before being reinvented as Oriana. I’m sure plenty of people will remember Coasters with Rory on the decks. It seems such a long time ago!
And don’t forget that just along the seafront, but close by, was Midnight Blues under the Grand Hotel and the Metro under the Hilton Hotel! Both these are long gone and I believe they are now both the fitness/gym areas.
Coasters the 80’s, reliving my youth, can’t wait 😉 the organisers have worked so hard it’s going to be so good can’t wait! Only down side, I broke my leg, but that’s not going to stop me coming all the way from Hertfordshire 🙂
I go back 35? years the birds nest, pre glocester I was part of the decorating team that had one week to change it to bubbles disco later to become mr k’s opened saturday night with simon bates,had a pint after hours with simon bates great memory.
Where is it being held…..we would love to go I have such great mercerise of this fun and vibrant times…..xxxxx many thanks Mandy farrow now 51.
Coasters was the place to be .Good drinks , great music , fun people ,I would love to be there but i am living in Italy now…Coasters will always be in my heart.
Rory passed away 1994 while I was working with him in Southsea, Portsmouth. We had some great times over 24 years ago and he still makes me laugh now!
hi, i /we went to coasters for many years, loved it , rememeber biba, and a few others, over the years we wonders about the people rory & crew. where are they now???