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Isabellas??


Guest Horrorbelle

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Guest Horrorbelle

On Arundel gate beside Fuel (formerly Berlins), there's another club - I think it was Europa for a while, then recently the ill-fated Niche. The Niche sign has been removed and you can just see the ghostly remnants of some past lettering spelling 'Isabellas'.

A friend at work remembers going here years ago, but it's before my time in Sheffield.

Anyone else?

It would be nice to see a photo of what it used to look like if anyone has one.

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Isabellas was a fantastic little club with a low ceiling and usually played soul and party tracks

It was busy when Gossips and Berlins were open (Berlins was the pre-bar for Isabellas)

It was upstairs and there was a strange little mirrored corridor you walked through to get to the main room

As you entered from the street you turned left, and walked up the stairs.

At the top of the stairs you turned right and there was the cloakroom and right again was the corridor of mirrors

lol

Inside the room the DJ box was raised slightly and there was a dancefloor in the middle of the room with a bar down one side on your right hand side

Was a fab little place with a great atmosphere most nights - due to the low ceiling, small capacity (meaning it looked packed with just 100 in) and of course fantastic music such as Luther Vandross, Alexander O Neal and other soul stuff - and the occasional party spot and even a bit of dance music

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Guest lesvegas

I went a few times, i was only 14 at the time

nice little club, i got my first town dance with a lass in there even though i looked terrible, she wasnt half bad either

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Guest Horrorbelle

Isabellas was a fantastic little club with a low ceiling and usually played soul and party tracks

It was busy when Gossips and Berlins were open (Berlins was the pre-bar for Isabellas)

It was upstairs and there was a strange little mirrored corridor you walked through to get to the main room

As you entered from the street you turned left, and walked up the stairs.

At the top of the stairs you turned right and there was the cloakroom and right again was the corridor of mirrors

lol

Inside the room the DJ box was raised slightly and there was a dancefloor in the middle of the room with a bar down one side on your right hand side

Was a fab little place with a great atmosphere most nights - due to the low ceiling, small capacity (meaning it looked packed with just 100 in) and of course fantastic music such as Luther Vandross, Alexander O Neal and other soul stuff - and the occasional party spot and even a bit of dance music

Wow, sounds like you were a regular!

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I DJ'd a few doors up at Gossips (on the corner) and a couple of times in Isabella's.

Sometimes after finishing at Gossips I would go to Isabellas for a drink - but most times went up to Josephines into the wine bar and hung with the money men..

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Guest Horrorbelle

Ah, DJ-ing. Do you still spin the wheels of steel nowadays?

What were the top plays when you were in Isabellas then?

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I retired in 2001 after 13 years DJ'ing the nightclubs of Sheffield

Isabellas was very much soul, funk and motown with Luther Vandross, Alexander O'Neal and George Benson amongst the top artists of the time in there..

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Guest gazrich

I DJ'd a few doors up at Gossips (on the corner) and a couple of times in Isabella's.

Sometimes after finishing at Gossips I would go to Isabellas for a drink - but most times went up to Josephines into the wine bar and hung with the money men..

And If I am right I used to occasionally stand next to you usually takeing the wee wee... Hmmm HI N

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Hey up Gazza

I'm hoping you're going to contribute some memories of the old days mate !

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Guest gazrich

Would Like to think I'm not old enouth to Qualify but I guess I am.. i will have a lurk around mate...

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That's the beauty of this site - everyone has memories of Sheffield

You don't need to be of a certain age to join in !

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Guest janice844

I'm not sure how far back we're supposed to be going, (somebody mentioned Nether Edge Hall, which became Turnups and that was years ago.) but does anybody remember 'Shades' on Ecclesall Rd, Banner Cross?

I think it's been replaced by Napoleon's Casino, do I remember correctly, did Shades burn down? And wasn't it owned by Max Omara who owned The Genevive?

If you remember it, wasn't that building originally a cinema???

And what was Isabella's called originally?

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I remember Shades, my Mum used to go there every week it was in the basement of the building entered via a flight of steps from the right hand side, The original Napoleon's Casino was situated upstairs I worked here for a short time in the 80's. Shades used to host live bands mainly reggae Mum went to see Demond Dekka there and took my Dad who promptly fell asleep despite the noise and revellry!! It was owned by Max O'Mara who I met once or twice, do you remember the "Sat Night Fever" dance floor at Max's ?

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Posted this on Cairo's thread too. What were the main differences between Cairo's and Issabella's?

I would say the 'vibe'

By that I mean Cairos was very much commercial pop, dance and party time whereas Isabellas was cool, soul (think Luther Vandross, Alexander O Neil etc) and laid back and was a place where it was more 'cool' to be seen

Hardly any trouble in Isabellas either

I loved the place - the DJ's were fantastic too and the whole place had a fantastic atmosphere

Obviously being a part of Cairo's history myself I am attached to that club too but for a personal night out I absolutely loved Isabella's - it had a 'club' atmosphere

Small, well laid out with people just relaxing and having fun

Cairo's - obviously bigger (2 rooms too) and more commercial music and atmosphere

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Guest Dfunkd

I Dj'd in the club for 4 years from about 88. I was the only DJ there and did every Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. You are correct I did play more soul/funk with a touch of deep house etc. When I joined the club they would have about 15 people in on a Saturday night, so I changed the music and very slowly the numbers built up untill we had to remove all the tables and stools to get everyone in. It was a great time and a great club.

If anyone is interested I now run a monthly night of Rare Groove, Soul, disco & Funk @ Bar Abbey, Abbeydale Picturehouse, abbeydale Road. www.dfunkd.co.uk or search DFUNKD on facebook. Some of the Isabellas tunes will be played, its a great night out with a nice crowd. Next one is 6th September 2008.

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I Dj'd in the club for 4 years from about 88. I was the only DJ there and did every Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. You are correct I did play more soul/funk with a touch of deep house etc. When I joined the club they would have about 15 people in on a Saturday night, so I changed the music and very slowly the numbers built up untill we had to remove all the tables and stools to get everyone in. It was a great time and a great club.

If anyone is interested I now run a monthly night of Rare Groove, Soul, disco & Funk @ Bar Abbey, Abbeydale Picturehouse, abbeydale Road. www.dfunkd.co.uk or search DFUNKD on facebook. Some of the Isabellas tunes will be played, its a great night out with a nice crowd. Next one is 6th September 2008.

Was Isabellas originally The Penny Farthing? If so I used to go there a lot .Still got my pass.I was bar staff at The Heartbeat so we used to get in for free.

Ps Looking forward to trying your 6th Sept night.

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I Dj'd in the club for 4 years from about 88. I was the only DJ there and did every Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. You are correct I did play more soul/funk with a touch of deep house etc. When I joined the club they would have about 15 people in on a Saturday night, so I changed the music and very slowly the numbers built up untill we had to remove all the tables and stools to get everyone in. It was a great time and a great club.

If anyone is interested I now run a monthly night of Rare Groove, Soul, disco & Funk @ Bar Abbey, Abbeydale Picturehouse, abbeydale Road. www.dfunkd.co.uk or search DFUNKD on facebook. Some of the Isabellas tunes will be played, its a great night out with a nice crowd. Next one is 6th September 2008.

Great to hear from you !!!

You got any photo's of the place or you working etc ?

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Guest Dinno_Paul

Wow,i'm really loving this site and all the memories B)

Well i only went to Isabellas once,in the very early 90's i think.

I had a real hot date and after having a few in Gossips(i think that was on the other corner on Furnival Gate down from where the old Redgates was)we headed for Isabellas.

I remember it being fairly small,on a par with Maximillions if memory serves?and we had a fairly good night in there.

One thing definately sticks in my mind though from that night,the DJ played 'Sunday,Bloody Sunday' or 'Pride' by U2 and he really gave it some with his moves and he stood on some metal barriers with legs akimbo lol.Looked damn dangerous if you ask me lol

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as a 70s/80s soul boy I went to Issabellas regularly, great place, great music, great people, non of the truoble you had a Cairos or the Top Rank.

I also saw ABC play one of their very first gigs there, a short gig of around 5 songs including Alphabet Soup, Poison Arrow, they were much more funky at this time, prior to getting the Trevor Horn treatment.

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Guest Jilltwinmum

thank you for refreshing my memory! Just found this site and am loving reliving Sheffield moments! I remember Isabellas well and you described it perfectly! There was always something really grown up about going up that windy staircase and then seeing the mirrors. I am 42 and now live in North Carolina, USA but lived in Sheffield from birth to age 25. My haunts were Isabella's, Romeos, Fanny's and Josephines, occasionally the Roxy and Leadmill. I remember when going to Josephines, it was a must to go to Chubbys after - it was always mobbed and they made burgers with a weird cottage cheese textured sauce!!! Thanks for the site!

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