Last orders at resort’s legendary biker pub
THERE I was. In my late teens, with hair like Bonnie Tyler and wearing a pair of leather look trousers that were probably at least two sizes too small.
A slick of red lippy and a pair of spike heeled, tasssled boots I could barely walk in.
Preparation was everything. After all, I was going to what was heralded as the ‘best biker bar ever’, so I had to look the part.
Think Olivia Newton John in Grease. Just fatter.
Stood outside the cherry red painted double doors of Scally’s on that warm summer evening, the thud of the rock band on stage resonated through the concrete frontage covered in a plethora of impressive motorcycles.
I knew then, this place – think Coyote Ugly meets The Double Deuce/Bourbon Room – was something special. A place where I would spend much of my late teens and early twenties which would lead to a lifelong love of motorbikes and rock music.
I’d visited Scally’s before it became Scally’s.
As an original 1980s wild child (think Amanda de Cadenet but worse) my nights out in sunny Weston-super-Mare started at a young age.
My first visit to this Carlton Street boozer was when it was the Prince of Wales, a proper spit and sawdust pub run by a landlord called Dave.
After he left, the bar became Scally’s and was a gay bar for several months before it was left boarded up, unloved and empty.
Dawn Coupe was running
Chasers biker pub in Hereford and, after she was gazumped on a deal to buy it, heard of a number of pubs in Weston-super-Mare which had come available.
Initially she came to view other properties, but after becoming lost trying to find her way around the resort, she stumbled across Scally’s.
“I literally just drove past it and it was all boarded up,” she said.
“I was interested because it was called Scally’s,” she said.
“The bike club which used my pub in Hereford were called The Scallywags’ – it was an omen.”
Dawn then got the keys to take her first peek inside what would become her home – and her life – for the next 27 years.
“It looked like a good pub,” she said. “It had a small corner stage and room for a pool table.
“All that was in it was a few tables and chairs. It was pretty much a blank canvas to work with.”
Dawn agreed a six-month rent-free period to see if she could “turn Scally’s around”. It was a challenge the formidable – sometimes fearsome landlady – most definitely rose to.
She made the stage bigger and started putting on live music on Saturday nights with the help of local musician Cliff Moore.
“No one else was doing live music in Weston at that time and I wanted to get a feel for the town and it really started to take off.”
Dawn’s biker community in Hereford continued to support her, with many of the ‘Scallywags’ – who renamed themselves The Scallys in tribute to Dawn’s venture – travelling down each weekend to enjoy the music.
“They came down, with sleeping bags,” she laughed. “Many would end up sleeping in the bar. They said they just couldn’t find another pub like it.”
Scally’s quickly became known as a biker-friendly pub.
All bikers were welcome, regardless of the patch or colours they wore.
It was also a favoured haunt of many of the OAPs who lived in the neighbouring retirement flats.
“Everyone just joined in together,” said Dawn, “and we started to build a real Scally’s community.”
Live music sessions at the pub became more frequent with a jam night on a Thursday night with the likes of Cliff Moore, Alan Dexter, Steve Kearns, Matt from the Back Bar and Jarod leading the stage.
Friday nights were tribute band nights while Saturday was the ‘big night’ of the weekend with a live band.
Anyone who was a regular visitor to jam night would remember the many characters that took a slot in the Scally’s limelight.
Not only did Scally’s showcase the best in local musicians over the years, it also welcomed some huge names in the rock world.
Gary Moore – famed for his hits Still Got The Blues, Parisienne Walkways and Empty Rooms – came into the pub with his brother Cliff on a Monday afternoon. Dawn had no idea who he was.
“It was a quiet Monday afternoon and this chap walked in wearing a long checked coat,” said Dawn.
“And in behind him walked Cliff, who introduced him as his brother Gary. He had a few drinks and we had a nice chat and he left.”
When the pub closed, Dawn mentioned that Cliff had brought his brother Gary in.
“People couldn’t believe it when I told them,” she said.
“They were like ‘Gary Moore was in here and you didn’t even know it’.”
Other big names to appear in Scally’s included Phil Hilbourne – of the Queen musical We Will Rock You – who regularly performed with his band.
At one gig he had to get an emergency stand-in on drums after he was let down at the last minute.
But the replacement drummer was a real surprise – Iron Maiden drummer Nico McBrain, with whom Phil still tours.
The Kaiser Chiefs also made a stop-off in Scally’s after performing at T4 on the Beach.
“They came in after their gig and drank us out of Guinness,” said Dawn.
Bad Manners’ Buster Bloodvessel
It has always been our home as well as our business. The bar was like our front room and everyone always treated it with respect Dawn Coupe
has also been a regular performer on the Scally’s stage, along with bands from further afield including the Ghetto Billies from Chicago and the Bar Flies who travelled from Australia.
Blues legend Eddie Martin has also been a regular visitor over the years.
As the pub’s popularity continued to grow, in 2005 Dawn did a deal with the council to move the bike parking in the Carlton Street car park closer to the pub.
On busy days it was nothing to see at least 100 bikes – from Harleys to Triumphs – parked up outside.
“Unlike other landlords we have always lived above the pub,” said Dawn.
“So it has always been our home as well as our business. The bar was like our front room and everyone always treated it with that respect.”
Although a biker haunt, the pub was very much part of the local community.
“We had a lot of lady customers who used to come in on their own because they felt safe,” said Dawn.
And the bikers were always courteous, even offering to guard handbags on the odd occasion.
On one particular night the girls and I had been in with my friend Carol, wanting to dance to the band.
But there was one issue preventing it – her handbag. And there was no way she would be ‘uncool’ enough to dance around it.
“There was an absolutely huge, archetypal biker sat at the bar,” Carol said.
“We got chatting and he offered to look after my handbag. He tied it around his leg with the reassurance it ‘wasn’t going anywhere’ and sat there, guarding it all night while I danced.”
Over the years Dawn and partner Kev have seen many changes in Weston.
In 2005, the then council tried to compulsory purchase the pub to make way for an even bigger multi storey car park as part of the Dolphin Square redevelopment.
The pair fought them all the way with a wave of local support behind them.
“We were having none of it,” said a defiant Dawn, “and nor were our customers.”
Scally’s has also raised thousands of pounds for charity over the years.
Causes such as the RNLI, the Parkinson’s Society and The Sunshine Club have all benefited.
Scally’s was forced to shut when lockdown came in March.
Dawn and Kev have now sold Scally’s to a local businessman and are planning to ‘retire’ to their narrow boat in Gloucestershire.
“I took on Scally’s when I was 29 years old,” said Dawn.
“It’s been half of my adult life.” “When we announced we were selling and had sold, the response was overwhelming. Never did I think a pub could have an effect on so many people’s lives.”
The walls of the pub are filled with pictures of customers enjoying a night out.
Some of the more memorable pictures took pride of place on the ceiling – mainly to make it difficult for them to be taken down.
And although the bar taps may be turned off, the memories will remain. “We have had such an amazing time running Scally’s and of course I am sad to leave.
“Our customers have become like family.
“The best thing for me was to see people come and leave happy after having a great night out.
“It’s now time for a new, somewhat quieter, chapter.”
I’ve still got the leather trousers, albeit not the same ones from nearly 30 years ago.
But there will be nowhere like Scally’s ever again to wear them. Scally’s was a one-of-a-kind pub.
Weston-super-Mare just won’t be the same without it.