Look back at Top Rank in Watford and DJ Alan Freeman visiting

It was announced last month that the Watford nightclub will be shutting down after failing to reach an agreement with the landlord.

Through its various name changes and refurbishments as Oceana, Destiny, Kudos, Paradise Lost and back to Bailey’s, there has been a nightclub at 127 The Parade since it first opened as Top Rank Watford Suite in 1965.

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Top Rank in the 1960s. Image: Bob Nunn Collection/Watford Museum

Thanks to our friends at Watford Museum and pictures from the Watford Observer archive, today we look back at some views of the town’s premier nightspot in its early years and recall when a legendary DJ entertained at the venue.

Alan Freeman visited Top Rank in September 1969. Image: Watford Observer

Best remembered as longest-serving presenter of BBC Radio programme Pick of the Pops, Alan ‘Fluff’ Freeman visited Top Rank in September 1969 while he was working for Radio 1.

This water feature in the Pond in front of the nightclub was creating plenty of attention in the 1960s. Image: Watford Observer/Watford Museum

The pictures from our archive show him happily signing autographs while also appearing to burst into a song with a band on stage.

The famous DJ was joined by a band during his visit to the Watford venue. Image: Watford Observer

A building society was located next to Top Rank in this postcard of The Parade. Image: Watford Museum