Many memories of much-missed club

In 1990, the nightlife in Ashford was about to step up a gear in what was to become a muchloved entertainment venue that many generations still speak of with much affection.

A new broom was to sweep clean at the former Flour Mills in East Hill when the already established Dusty’s Nightclub and the Jolly Miller was transformed to become the formidable Cales Nightclub and Flatfoot Sams.

The Kingfisher Leisureowned entertainment complex was to be the ‘ultimate local’ where scores of music lovers congregated religiously at every opportunity it was open for business.

Like any nightclub, it wasn’t without its occasional problems, but above all, a combination of good management and professional and respected door staff ensured a good night week in and week out.

With regular special events and offers and guest appearances from the likes of Michelle Collins from EastEnders and Duane Harden, vocalist on Armand van Helden’s You Don’t Know Me, to name but a few, Cales and Flatfoots was a must for a night to remember and a place where you could meet, socialise and have great fun.

Resident DJ Rob Prince was always a huge favourite with his array of chart-toppers and favourites and earned the respect of regular customers of the venues.

Even though Cales and Flatfoots closed in 2000 to be replaced by Luminar Leisure’s Liquid and Life brand, many still hanker after Cales and Flatfoots, with some saying they would love to bring it back to the now-derelict flour mill built in 1901.

Liquid and latter guise Envy vacated the mill a few years ago, and the former nightlife hub is now owned by Ashford School which initially had plans for the premises that have since been shelved.

Now, the keenest of former customers and staff are part of a hugely popular Facebook group, with ex-staff and punters posting their pictorial memories of the East Hill clubs.

Created eight years ago, the group has amassed more than 2,500 members.

For former clubbers, the ‘Cales and Flatfoot Sams,

East Hill’ group is a must if you have any memories or photographs of the former clubs during their heyday.

The group can be found on Facebook at bit.ly/3oz8tJD

■ Do you have any photographs or slides of Ashford you would be willing to loan me to enable them to be scanned for a feature in the Kentish Express?

Please don’t delay, get in touch! Please email me: rememberwhen_kmash@ hotmail.co.uk

3 Circa 1990s - The interior of downstairs club Flatfoot Sams which played everything from chart hits to club classics and even the favourites from the 80s. Both venues were individually accessed

1 Circa 1990s - The interior of Cales Nightclub during its years of operation and the once-familiar stained-glass window depicting a Kingfisher on Cales’ entrance stairs. Kingfisher Leisure owned the club

2 December 1990 - The much-loved and missed Cales Nightclub entrance at East Hill Mill. The East Hill nightclub venues became Liquid and Life in 2002