Curtain falls on the Carleton...quite literally

Now here is a beauty of a story about the Carleton courtesy of builder Philip Kitchin.
Bathing beauties in Morecambe. Philip Kitchin has a funny story about a beauty contest held at the 'Inn on the Bay' (later the Carleton) in the 1970s.Bathing beauties in Morecambe. Philip Kitchin has a funny story about a beauty contest held at the 'Inn on the Bay' (later the Carleton) in the 1970s.
Bathing beauties in Morecambe. Philip Kitchin has a funny story about a beauty contest held at the 'Inn on the Bay' (later the Carleton) in the 1970s.

Philip was called in as the main contractor after the Morecambe club, then the Alhambra Theatre, was gutted by fire in 1970.

The venue was shut down for three years while it was renovated. Then, after a competition to find a new name, it was relaunched as the Inn on the Bay.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We looked after it for the Taylors for a few years, doing maintenance,” said Philip.

“Opening night was in July 1973. The famous singer and comedienne Joan Turner was on. I remember it was a red hot night and the air conditioning broke down.”

But Philip’s favourite memory of the Inn on the Bay came during a bathing beauty contest.

“The girls were behind the curtain on the stage.

“The compere opened the curtain and it fell down on top of them! It was like a Carry On film.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I had to get the curtain off them and put it back up. There were 500 people there and I got a round of applause. It was one of my best ever jobs!”

The Carleton is due to be converted into flats after one final farewell sold-out dance gig at the Morecambe club on January 30.

Related topics: