Reunion Scheduled for Northampton Nightclub That Closed 33 Years Ago

Individuals associated with a Northampton nightclub, Top of The Town, which in its prime hosted La Toya Jackson and Steve Wright, have organized a reunion event 33 years after the establishment ceased operations. Top of The Town initially opened in 1978 as a working men’s club, was transformed into a nightclub in the early 1980s, and closed in 1991. In 1988, the Cohen family purchased the venue, and it was managed by Pete Cohen, father of rugby player Ben Cohen and brother of footballer George Cohen. Steve McNeill, a former DJ at the club, stated that the venue was “at the forefront of dance music” in the town. Mr. McNeill, along with other past performers from the club, will participate in the “Tops” reunion on November 30 at Barretts Club in Northampton. The original Top of the Town building, situated on Great Russell Street, Northampton, has since been demolished. Mr. McNeill remarked: “It looked like Bertie Bassett and because [the building] was made of plastic it used to get very hot in there, it was shocking.” He added, “But on the inside it was nice. It was a proper nightclub.” He mentioned that it featured areas such as a cocktail lounge with a pianist. The DJ further commented: “You could go into a pool room, you get some food, you could have a dance.” He concluded, “Long gone are those days where you’d go in and have cocktails and then go for a dance.” Justin Cohen, another DJ at the club, stated that his family acquired ownership of the club in 1988, during what he described as its “heyday.” He recounted: “My dad went in there as a doorman in 1984 and then we had the opportunity to buy it.” Mr. Cohen noted that the week’s first major night was on a Thursday, which would “start the weekend.” He also mentioned that La Toya Jackson visited the club in 1988 while accompanying her brother Michael Jackson to the UK for his Wembley Stadium performances, as did the late Radio 1 DJ Steve Wright. Additionally, he stated that the club hosted several “Grange Hill stars on a Monday” during its under-18s night. Speaking about the upcoming reunion, he expressed: “You get a dancefloor filled, get good tune on and it just brings back so many memories.”