A Merseyside nightclub was so popular in the 1990s that the iconic The Hitman and Her television show visited the venue.
The Ritzy in Bromborough in Wirral was a huge nightclub located at the Croft Retail Park. Hundreds of people across Merseyside flocked to the club every weekend to dance the night away to the latest 1990s club classics.
Those that frequented the Ritzy will recall the much-loved 99p drinks nights and foam parties. Sometimes famous faces would drop by.
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In July 1992, ITV’s The Hitman and Her filmed a very special episode at the Ritzy, which had a capacity of 1,400 people. Hosted by Pete Waterman and Michaela Strachan, the dance music show toured various clubs broadcasting what was going on inside them.
Many will recall the excitement of spotting yourself on the telly boogying with your pals under the colourful lights. The ECHO recently uncovered the two-hour long episode of The Hitman and Her filmed at the Ritzy which perfectly captures 1990s fashion, music and dance routines.
The live episode, which was a charity telethon special, opens with Pete and Michaela welcoming viewers to the Ritzy, where Michaela, who’s wearing a black baseball cap slightly pointed to the side and chunky gold jewellery, says: “This is a very special live show tonight.
“The whole complex has been given over to the telethon here in Bromborough. Not only have we got a huge crowd here for a great party, they’ll also be showing movies at the cinema all night long in the projection room.”
Pete adds: “We’ll be doing bowling, too!” Which is proven true when Michaela later scores a strike on her first attempt. Michaela then introduces the live musical guests of the night, which included KWS, Oceanic, and Smart E’s.
As well as having a good time, the aim of the The Hitman and Her episode was to raise money for charity. People could phone in to donate, while local businesses sent huge cheques that were unveiled throughout the episode.
As the show was live, poor Pete and Michaela had a couple of mishaps when it came to pronouncing certain words, with “Wirral” occasionally being renamed “Worral”. In between the duo talking to guests, the crowd can be seen dancing away to 90s classics, with the camera at one point panning over a group of clubbers enthusiastically dancing to Rhythm Is A Dancer.
The Hitman and Her episode ends with Pete and Michaela singing a medley of Grease songs. Cans of silly string are set off, before the dancing resumes and the filming stops.
The Ritzy sadly closed in January 2003 following complaints from residents about anti-social behaviour. The building that housed the Ritzy and the neighbouring 5th Avenue club and Hotshots bar was demolished in 2007, with a gym being built in its place. You can watch the full two-hour episode of The Hitman and Her at the Ritzy here.
What are your memories of the Ritzy in Bromborough? Let us know in the comments section below.
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