- Mecca Leisure Group
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Mecca Leisure Group Type Private Industry nightclubs, cafes, casinos, hotels, theme parks Headquarters London, England, UK Key people Michael Guthrie, Chairman Mecca Leisure Group (also known as Mecca Leisure Ltd., Mecca Ltd, and Mecca Dance Ltd) was a British business that ran nightclubs, hotels, theme parks, bingo parlors, and Hard Rock Cafes.[1] During the 1960s they were the centre of entertainment with numerous nightclubs throughout major UK towns and cities. Mecca ballrooms were used for the BBC TV show Come Dancing.[2] Eric Morley was a general manager of dancing at Mecca Leisure Group and was involved in the Miss World competitions.
Notable DJs performing at Mecca nightclubs include Jimmy Savile[3][4] from 1960[5] and Pete Waterman.
Contents
History
In 1989, Mecca Leisure Group acquired Pleasurama Plc.[6]
In 1990, the Rank Organisation made an offer of £512m to acquire Mecca Leisure Group, which was initially rejected, and then accepted two months later.[1][7]
Venues
Venue Opening Closure Locarno Ballroom, Basildon[8] 1961 Blackpool Mecca 1965 Mecca Locarno, Coventry[9] Ilford Palais[10] Mecca Locarno Ballroom, Leeds[5] 1938 1969 Locarno, Liverpool 1948 Lyceum Theatre Southampton Royal Pier[11] 1963 1979 Stockport Plaza[12] 1965 Tottenham References
- ^ a b "The Rank Group plc - Company Profile, Information, Business Description, History, Background Information on The Rank Group plc". www.referenceforbusiness.com. http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/23/The-Rank-Group-plc.html. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
- ^ "Come Dancing - UKGameshows". www.ukgameshows.com. http://www.ukgameshows.com/ukgs/Come_Dancing. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
- ^ "A Study in Branding Popular Entertainment". meccadancing.com. http://www.meccadancing.com/. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
- ^ "Jimmy Savile". DJHistory.com. http://www.djhistory.com/interviews/jimmy-savile. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
- ^ a b "Leodis - a photographic archive of Leeds - Display". www.leodis.net. http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?resourceIdentifier=20031028_83919925. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
- ^ Ball, Aimee Lee (July 1991). "Mr Universe". New York Magazine 24 (27): 38. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=VukCAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA38&lpg=PA38&dq=new+york+magazine+mr+universe+1991&source=bl&ots=KMc2NXg_mf&sig=YNi66qBCWJKjeYw9G4jlyreaGHo&hl=en&ei=oBMzTemRE5S7jAeRqYnlCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBYQ6AEwAA.
- ^ "Rank Group Plc - About us - History". www.rank.com. http://www.rank.com/about_us/history.jsp. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
- ^ "Basildon - A Chronological History 1960 - 1969". www.basildon.com. http://www.basildon.com/history/chronology/19601969.html. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
- ^ "The Coventry kid who made good". www.bbc.co.uk. http://www.bbc.co.uk/coventry/content/articles/2006/03/31/famous_pete_waterman_feature.shtml. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
- ^ "When the local palais was the place to be dancing". www.echo-news.co.uk. http://www.echo-news.co.uk/echofeatures/memories/4746261.When_the_local_palais_was_the_place_to_be_dancing/. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
- ^ "English Seaside Piers - Royal Pier, Southampton". www.theheritagetrail.co.uk. http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/piers/southampton%20royal.htm. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
- ^ "BBC - In pictures: Stockport Plaza". www.bbc.co.uk. 2009-12-11. http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/manchester/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8407000/8407785.stm. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
External links
Categories:- Leisure companies of the United Kingdom
- Gambling companies of the United Kingdom
- Casinos in the United Kingdom
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