A mysterious one, known to a couple of our pals who frequented Manchester in the '60s, '70s, 80's, one of whom remembers being a member of the Auto Club. It was first described as "around the back of Piccadilly bus station", but they must be mistaken as it's been confirmed as being in the Gay Village, to the rear of the New Union on Richmond Street, ran by Bill Pilling for 26 years. It's exact location appears to be behind the bin wagon in the below shot, in the three-floor building. An Evening News reader 'Ace Shakespeare' also recalls it in a 2008 article about the Krays, Dougie Flood and the Quality Street gangsters: "...most used to have their own place to meet most nights - the 'Auto Club' which has now closed and has become part of Manchester's glorious history" [1].
Behind the New Union, Richmond Street. (c) googlemaps.
The Auto Club opened at 10pm and stayed open late, and as Bill Pilling's son can confirm, the club had a reputation for the best steaks in Manchester thanks to Peter the Greek chef. Local John Clarke remembers going in the Auto Club as a naive 17 year old on a works do in 1983. The interior was like a speakeasy, and decorated with old car chrome hub caps. To gain entry to the Auto Club, one would knock on the door and utter a password to the bouncer through a hatch. This bouncer sounds like the Polish chap Yanoush, that former Cyprus Tavern manager Yiannis Kitromilides remembers, also known as Yan with the big cigar.
The Auto Club opened at 10pm and stayed open late, and as Bill Pilling's son can confirm, the club had a reputation for the best steaks in Manchester thanks to Peter the Greek chef. Local John Clarke remembers going in the Auto Club as a naive 17 year old on a works do in 1983. The interior was like a speakeasy, and decorated with old car chrome hub caps. To gain entry to the Auto Club, one would knock on the door and utter a password to the bouncer through a hatch. This bouncer sounds like the Polish chap Yanoush, that former Cyprus Tavern manager Yiannis Kitromilides remembers, also known as Yan with the big cigar.
