Anyone Remember Bonkers

[Savo]

Hi does anyone remember Bonkers on the dock rd it was mid 80's
the Dj was Alan and the bar staff danced on the bar,
and can anyone tell me if Franks Cafe on dock road is still open,
got the best breakfast and bacon sarnies ever,
great cure on a sat mornining after a few bevvies on fri night
couldnt of worked on sat without this cure,sadly I worked for Robert Kellys on renshaw st (now rapid i think) then worked for Lewis's any one else work there during 70's?

[Ged]

I went to bonkers a few times. it was one of the original fun pubs along with Porkies a bit further along. Bonkers was originally the Regents but was done out with a pink and light blue interior and like you say, the bar staff danced on the bar. Another we used to like in town was Le Jardin which became wolly fongs chinese or something like that.

Pictures of bonkers and Kellys on my site below.

[Spike]

I went to bonkers many times, great laugh there.

We built them their stage in the pubs later years. Flaron and the Flamingo's were the first band to play on it.

---------- Post added at 04:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:15 PM ----------

All the staff would jump on the bar to do the Time Warp.

One guy did Elvis and another did " Always look on the bright side of life " that made me laugh as he dressed as Jesus and carried a cross. Imaging driving along the dock road and seeing him going into the pub Ha ha.

Snappy's Bar was another fun pub. Though the girls who worked there were very naughty at times Ha Ha.

[grekko]

Here you are, Frank's cafe:
22390

[chasevans]

I went to bonkers many times, great laugh there.

We built them their stage in the pubs later years. Flaron and the Flamingo's were the first band to play on it.

---------- Post added at 04:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:15 PM ----------

All the staff would jump on the bar to do the Time Warp.

One guy did Elvis and another did " Always look on the bright side of life " that made me laugh as he dressed as Jesus and carried a cross. Imaging driving along the dock road and seeing him going into the pub Ha ha.

Snappy's Bar was another fun pub. Though the girls who worked there were very naughty at times Ha Ha.
Was it called the Dockers Hook before it became Bonkers. I recall playing both venues, I may be confusing their localities. I was in "Billy's Budgies" at that time.
Regards,
Chas:wasted:

[kevin]

I was in "Billy's Budgies" at that time.
Regards,
Chas:wasted:

Was your showstopper Macaw-fer Park?

[grekko]

I was in "Billy's Budgies" at that time.
Regards,
Chas:wasted:

Aviary body's favourite

[collegepudding]

I knew the owners of Bonkers and i carried out a bit of work there for them once. the top floor of one section was derelict and completely inhabited by pigeons....it was a disgusting sight...dont know how environmental health never sussed it....hope that hasnt shattered too many memories :rolleyes:

collegepudding

[chasevans]

Was your showstopper Macaw-fer Park?

If's a long story Kevin and Grekko, but Billy's Budgies was a nom de plume for Faron's Flamingos. I also remember the barmaids stopped serving when the Time Warp was played by the DJ.Your description of the upstairs sounds like a flat I once had in Birkenhead, Collegepudding.
I've got memories of another Bonkers on the other side of the water somewhere.
Tears in me I,
Chas:D

[collegepudding]

yes chasevans, they did own a second one around birkenhead docks area didnt they, over the four bridges.


collegepudding

[Spike]

Im sure I heard a lot of the staff from Bonkers ended up in accidents over the years?

[chasevans]

yes chasevans, they did own a second one around birkenhead docks area didnt they, over the four bridges.


collegepudding

I thought my memory was right, thanks CP, did it change name to the Blazing Stump?
Cheers,
Chas:PDT11

---------- Post added at 09:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:07 PM ----------


Im sure I heard a lot of the staff from Bonkers ended up in accidents over the years?
As I was saying, Spike, I had nowt to do with the place!!!
Gulp,
Chas:PDT11

[collegepudding]

dunno chas.didnt know too much about it, i think that the liverpool one closed down through too much competition ,but like all new ideas the fun pub thing eventually ran its course and gave way to newer enterprises.

collegepudding

[chasevans]

Sorry I'm late replying.
I agree, a new idea at that time. It managed to get people to the dock pubs at night, and as far as I know there's only the Atlantic/ Iron Horse still providing entertainment.
http://www.liverpoolhome.com/atlantic/29th Jan.htm (http://www.liverpoolhome.com/atlantic/29th%20Jan.htm)
Cheers CP,
Chas:PDT11

[Ged]

Was it called the Dockers Hook before it became Bonkers. I recall playing both venues, I may be confusing their localities. I was in "Billy's Budgies" at that time.
Regards,
Chas:wasted:

See post No.2 it was the Regent. The dockers hook is now Kerries on the corner of Millers bridge, much further along.

[Savo]

The same ideas were used by the pleasure dome in birkenhead,at 8pm the lights went down and the frankies were blasted out,bar staff would stop serving and dance,great light show there,and yes there was a bonkers 2 on dock rd over 4 bridges,didnt last too long sadly.