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Abbie Meehan

Eight of West Lothian's lost pubs and clubs that are gone but not forgotten

A local history buff has published a video quiz on YouTube, testing West Lothian residents' knowledge on the pubs and nightclubs of old.

Bathgate was once a city full of nightlife, with over 22 pubs and clubs in and around the town centre.

Places were full to the brim on Friday and Saturday nights, as many people couldn't afford the bus fare into Edinburgh or Glasgow to go on a bigger jaunt.

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One YouTuber, who goes by the name The Kilted Cyclist, has posted a quiz for locals to test their knowledge on the old pubs and clubs in Bathgate from the 1980s.

The video goes on a tour of Bathgate, showing the old locations of where pubs and clubs used to be, and what has replaced them.

Read on below to find out more about what high-profile institutions have disappeared from the historic town of Bathgate, and see if you can remember any!

Boozy Suzy's

This old nightlife spot is situated behind The Balbardie Hotel and Pub, and was an old haunt of many of the partygoers in the 1980s.

The space has had many names in its time, such as Jarvey's - but it is now a residential home, far from what it used to be.

Quincy's

Quincy's was a nightclub situated in the centre of Bathgate, on Whitburn Road. In a building that once held two nightclubs, Quincy's and Manhattan, now holds a fish-and-chip shop and various other beauty spots and takeaways.

Bathgate & Lothian's Old School Facebook page was reminded of the old nightclub as well, posting in 2018: "Who remembers the old nightspots in Bathgate.

"This building used to hold Quincy's and Manhattan's. Anybody got others to mention from around Bathgate?"

Manhattans and Quincy's used to live in this building. (Kilted Cyclist / YouTube)

Dreadnought Hotel

The Dreadnought Hotel used to be a popular dance hall for the 80's kids, but it was closed in November 2006 following the relocation to new premises of Dreadnought Rock, a local music venue.

The building is still standing today, but the latest inspection in 2015 revealed that: "external inspection finds dampness, caused by leaking gutters and downpipes, evident as is rising damp. The building remains disused."

The Dreadnought Hotel is now DreadnoughtRocks around the corner. (Kilted Cyclist / YouTube)

What once used to be a historic institution, first opened in 1900, is now a derelict building unable to be used.

Flannigans / Fergies

Now Flannigans, or Fergies, was a popular dance venue back in the day, and had many different names. It initially began as a family pub, but then changed to a dance venue - and is now a small retail let building next to a tanning salon.

On YouTube, one nostalgic user wrote: "I loved loved loved working there and a great night out!"

Another added: "Great video, was back in Bathgate last year and it was sad to see how many of these great places no longer exist. Thank you."

The Palais de Danse

The Palais de Danse wasn't the first of its kind, as Fountainbridge in Edinburgh had a club by the same name. Infact, the Palais was a common name used for dance halls in the 80's.

Live bands and drinks flowed all night long until 2pm, where people stumbled out to get a takeaway after a great party.

One fan on YouTube wrote: "Brilliant trip down memory lane....final destination was usually the Palais which should have been preserved as a place of historic significance."

A lot of history fans on Facebook were excited to view the old Palais, as one said: "My granny met my papa there when it was the Corn Exchange dancing, and my mum met my dad there.

"I first went there in May 1984, two weeks before I left school, aged 16."

Now, the Palais is a residential area, next to a Euroscot Supermarket on Jarvey Street.

Residential areas have replaced many bars and nightclubs in Bathgate. (Kilted Cyclist / YouTube)

Room at the Top

This old nightclub and bar was on Menzies Road, and held cocktail nights, cheesy tunes and even had a 60's/70's room.

The old nightclub even has a section of a website dedicated to it, called Night Clubs Guide. The nostalgic section editor wrote: " The best nights of my life and it seems no matter who you speak to they all say the same - 'brilliant atmosphere', 'nowhere like it', 'great memories', 'they were the days'."

Now, the Room at the Top is an Anytime Fitness and kids soft play area, next to a Lidl and across from the Bathgate McDonald's.

Rendezvous

A popular drinking area in Bathgate, Rendezvous was a place for people to congregate and meet newbies in the area.

Situated where there is a residential area now on the A89, this place was popular in the 80's for people trying their first alcoholic beverage.

One Facebook user wrote: "I first tasted Peach Schnapps in the Rendezvous many years ago. I was talked into trying it by my now-Husband's Uncle."

Another added: "I used to work in Rendezvous many moons ago lol!"

Commercial Inn

And finally, where rock club DreadnoughtRock is now, is where the Commercial Inn used to be situated. An old photo was published on Facebook, showing what the Commercial Inn used to look like.

One Facebook user wrote: "I remember it well . A Guid Pub."

Another added: "Wow, not much has changed!"

Now, the Commercial Inn is the DreadnoughtRock, a live rock venue and nightclub that is still popular to this day.

Other old-school pubs included the Volunteer Arms, Glens, the 224 Club and Hardhill Snooker Club.

You can watch and subscribe to The Kilted Cyclists YouTube video here.

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