Iconic Northern Soul Venue Remembered | Tony's Ballroom | Let's Bring It Back

A campaign has been set up to help to bring back Blackburn's iconic dancehall Tony's Empress Ballroom. This documentary captures the stories and memories of people who made the venue truly special.

[@carolesmith9144]

The music played here was amazing! This was a brilliant nighter!

[@timwright8785]

Went from 94 onwards was always my favourite nighter had so many great times only downside was the long drive back to redditch but well worth it

[@jantaylor677]

Northern soul at TBR late 90s for me. Mini bus full from Cambridge or car shares, great nights. Jan.

[@IanNowosielski]

All Nighters - Scotty and Lynne on the desk at the top of the stairs and great music from the moment you entered 'til you left. Good times. Nice clip of Sue Blackburn from Huddersfield part way through.

[@plop202]

Great all-nighter, incredible venue that should be saved at all costs. Brilliant documentary!

[@johnrobertson8263]

Brilliant post, i'm in Stoke

[@andychallis9044]

Bloody hell ,gamekeeper , julie from bolton!

[@foxeymoore]

Tony’s owned by my Grandma’s brother featured very much in the life of my family. My Grandad worked the door and my Aunty Sally worked the cloakroom, it seemed forever.I see many of my family in the photo taken at Jodie’s 21st and I am in the photo,a little girl in my Mother’s arms.It is very sad to see the ballroom in this state,I remember it as a vibrant happy place ,part of the fabric,the heartbeat of Blackburn.

[@DS-wz8sg]

Great film, well done to all involved. I one hundred percent support any efforts to bring it back. First set foot in Tonys around 1983 aged 13 for Saturday morning karate lessons (I didn't last too long at that!) I was at the Some Now Are / Stockholm Monsters gig 87ish and can still remember the night quite well. Obviously some top northern soul nights and I have recollections of some decent reggae / dub nights in the 90s. Like one of the contributors on the film said, it seems almost criminal to have this gem of a place at the heart of the town empty. Respect.

[@jotudor3905]

Really enjoyed watching this. How criminal it would be to never be used again. Bring it back

[@Phantom1Powerglide]

Brilliant allnighters lovely building and very fond memories. Bring it Back

[@susanfurey3502]

Brilliant this we should never let this place go

[@scottlad1987]

Nicely done, very interesting

[@susangreenhalgh3742]

I learnt country dancing here 1975. Friday nights queuing to get in. Didn’t know they had soul nights there. Tea dances I recall. Pat Etketts dancing school was famous for a long time

[@seankenny941]

🤔 I can't remember it in the 90s 🤯 Maybe I misread a comment. Fantastic video. Bravo (actually ignore that because I'm on the BBC documentary in the 90s lol. I thought Guy stopped doing it earlier).

[@davidevans4089]

Brilliant film, great venue how did it come to this?.

[@kieron63]

Nice one Pete Eastwood 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🖖

[@npr1300A8]

I'll look forward to seeing this! Thank you.

[@andychallis9044]

Left a pair of desert boots behind a radiator in there on the last night ,

[@susangreenhalgh3742]

Should bring it back for themed nights, all ages.

[@steventopping106]

This was very interesting, I had no idea about this venue until I saw this. What a beautiful building and room. I absolutely love those windows. This is a real nice idea but honestly I don't know many people into northern soul other than maybe lads that ride the scooters. Maybe it could be a venue for hire for events?

[@jorjicostava6657]

We can do both, some local NS scenes are thriving at the moment and other events can happen as well. IIRC even the biggest northern soul venues weren't exclusively hosting all nighters

[@garydavies]

super :}

[@soulokeh61]

Great nighter remember jumpin Joan on the dance floor

[@Sheffield_Steve]

What a terrible, terrible waste of an absolute fabulous looking place. Those windows are awesome! When council's waste good money after bad, these are the buildings we should be looking at saving! Such a shame.