The Blue Angel

The Blue Angel – 106-108 Seel Street The venue was originally known as the Wyvern Social Club. It was bought by Allan Williams and renamed The Blue Angel in 1960 as a jazz club. In May 1960 the Silver Beetles auditioned for a support slot on an upcoming Billy Fury tour for impresario Larry Parnes. They did not secure this, but were offered their first tour outside Liverpool, supporting singer Johnny Gentle on a tour of Scotland. Later that same year, on 12 August, Pete Best auditions to join the Silver Beetles in the Blue Angel. After Brian Epstein saw Cilla Black performing at the Blue Angel on 6 September 1963, he signed her; she would be his only female client. In the 1980s the Blue Angel became the Razamataz, giving it the long surviving nickname, The Raz. The club became popular with students due to the cheap drinks on sale and range of music played. In 2008 DJ equipment was seized from the club and a noise complaint made from flats at the back of the venue, where a smoking area had been created following the recent smoking ban. There was a campaign to ‘Save the Raz’. In 2010 the venue won the court battle to open and operate as normal.

Photo metadata – Front of the Blue Angel club. Taken on 19 March 2021 by Vicki Caren.