After the Empire Cinema in Somercotes closed, it was used for a short time as a Roller Skating Rink, before being converted into the “New Windmill Ballroom", which opened on 17 September 1966.
The “Windmill Ballroom” traded for probably less than one year, before it became the “Club Pacific” Nightclub. The Stage and Television Today magazine published on 12 October 1967 records the opening:: “The newest club to open its doors is the Club Pacific at Somercotes with exquisite décor, UV lighting and a good food service plus a late licensee, it’s all go. Mr. Greatrex, the boss here is running the club on theatre lines and here again its only weekend live shows, but full weeks will be put in when the time is ripe, and indications show this is not far off”.
ADVERTISEMENT: Advert for the "Club Pacific", from The Stage magazine, 15 February 1968
The Stage also ran a small article in its magazine on 14 November 1968, which read “Dark nights bring back the “live” scene to the “Club Pacific”, Somercotes. Owner/agent Harry Greatorex is now presenting the “Late Date Show” from 11pm Saturday to 2am Sunday. This offering is aimed at the very late night-outers, bone-fide bookers’ and agents, and names listed so far include Teddy Alexander, Dennis Daniels, Alicia Dells, Ray King, Marion Walker, Dace and Carol etc. Meal service is laid on and a real “show-biz” gathering is promised.”
Although the “Club Pacific” traded for several years, around 1971 it became the “New Pacific”, under new owners Robert Else and Derek Sutton. Several small advertisements appeared in The Stage magazine for the years 1972 and 1973. An article published in the magazine on 24 May 1973 reads: “Up the road at Somercotes the NEW PACIFIC NIGHTSPOT had another in the “STAR TIME” series, and this one featured a return (by public demand) of the delightful colleen herself, RUBY MURRAY, whose fan following in the parish must be astronomical. In fact co-owners, BOB ELSE and DEREK SUTTON are now trying to book her for a third time this year…”
ADVERTISEMENT: Two advertisements from the The Stage magazine, for 2 November and 7 November 1972.
The “New Pacific Club” continued trading until the late 1970s, although by 1974, it was advertising itself as a “Disco-Dine” club. It was listed as such in the local telephone directories between 1974 and 1977.
By the late 1970s, the “New Pacific Club” had become more or less a discotheque. The exact date and circumstances of its closure are not known, but it seems by that time, the owner was Rudolph Saunders. His name appears in the London Gazette, relating to the premises – “... previously carrying on business from The New Pacific Club, 207 Nottingham Road, Somercotes, Derbyshire, as a CLUB PROPRIETOR … Date of Order—27th September 1979. Date of Filing Petition—16th May 1979”.