LilyFogg.com - Clarence's and the 1960s to 1980s music scene in Halifax

On the 2nd of December 1967 the premises above Dolci's shoe shop at 15-17 Crown Street in Halifax, West Yorkshire opened for business in their new guise.

Clarence's, Paul Mountain's club, was born and from December 1967 until November 1980 Paul provided the young people of Halifax with access to some of the finest music and entertainment available in the UK. Being just a two minute gentle stroll from the Upper George ensured its almost instant success.

From an early start in the music and club business as one of the founders of Plebeians (The Halifax Jazz Club) - or Plebs as it was better known - in 1961, Paul continued to run the club until mid 1968. In late 1967, able to sense that the year had brought with it many important changes to the music scene, he decided that the time had come for something different.

His timing was perfect. The Crabtree brothers, Shirley and Max, had decided that they had had enough of running their Big Daddy club in Crown Street, and after name changes that had taken it from Big Daddy's to The 2 + 2 Club, and then to The Scene they let it be known that the lease was for sale. Paul heard about the opportunity and after a brief meeting with the Crabtrees found himself with new premises, just yards away from Plebs, and a brand new business. He was just 24 years old.

In its early days the club continued the tradition of Plebs, putting on jazz, blues and folk acts, usually on a Sunday. In 1970 the 'Live Room' opened on the 2nd floor and rock acts and discos became the norm. Clarence's was normally open from 9pm to 2am on Friday and Saturday nights with a disco on the Friday, and a live act upstairs (2nd floor) and a disco downstairs (1st floor) on the Saturday. To encourage people to come early the entry charge was usually much cheaper before 10:30pm. 10:30pm of course being closing time for all the pubs in that era. Although it was supposedly strictly a private members' club, and many people did join, there were also a great many regular non-members who also went. The door policy was fairly relaxed and just saying you'd forgotten your membership card usually got you in.