In addition to being a founder of the Rock Against Racism movement, Red Saunders is also an established photographer who has worked for many publications. After losing a big chunk of his archive during a studio fire, he has recently been working on preserving his remaining archive. At BCA, we’ve been digitally archiving these images, including his shots for the Rock Against Racism Fanzine ‘Temporary Hoarding’. Mr Mellina had never heard of Wigan Casino or Northern Soul until the NME sent him to photograph the Wingamb Casino venue’s final night.

  • Around 600 people were there on the first night in September 1973.
  • Wigan Casino closed its doors for the last time in December 1981, after having hosted multiple “last all-nighters”, due to the incredible demand.
  • His photographs captured the venue in all its glory — a former ballroom transformed into a mecca for Northern Soul devotees.
  • For the most part, though, the venue seemed to evade the same level of criticism as The Twisted Wheel, and there was never a documented, concerted effort to shut the club down as a result of its drug problem.
  • At one point, it was even claimed by Billboard that Wigan Casino was the best disco in the world, trumping even Studio 54 in New York.
  • But the scene was about more than just the music; it had evolved into a full-fledged subculture, defined as much by its distinctive fashion and fierce sense of belonging as by the records that filled the dance floor.

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His photographs captured the venue in all its glory — a former ballroom transformed into a mecca for Northern Soul devotees. But the scene was about more than just the music; it had evolved into a full-fledged subculture, defined as much by its distinctive fashion and fierce sense of belonging as by the records that filled the dance floor. Wingamb Casino is a new online casino launched in 2025, operated by Kasego Global N.V. Use your first deposit to unlock a Welcome Bonus of up to ₺2500 and 65 Free Spins (up to 30 FS depending on the deposit amount). The casino offers a vast selection of games, including popular slots like Sweet Bonanza 1000, Big Bass Splash, and Gates of Olympus from Pragmatic Play. There is also a wide variety of live games from Evolution Gaming, providing an exciting gaming experience. Wingamb Casino supports cryptocurrency payments, ensuring fast and secure transactions.

A collection of paintings by Wigan artist Chris Gleeson

Gambi supports crypto payments and offers regular promotions, making it attractive to players like me who value both speed and flexibility in deposits and withdrawals. Wigan Casino was awarded by Americas Billboard Magazine the accolade “The Heart of Soul” in 1978, beating Studio 54 in New York. We partner with leading game providers and deliver smooth, secure gameplay across all devices.

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A woman has spoken of the “incredibly emotional” moment she saw a photograph of her late father in an exhibition celebrating the legendary Wigan Casino. A one-off performance of a new play written by Jim Cartwright and Directed by Nick Bagnall, which pays tribute to the legendary music and dance venue; Wigan Casino, performed with support from students of Rose Bruford College. Russ Winstanley is a UK DJ who is best known for his championing of Northern Soul music.

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It caters specifically to UK players who have self-excluded via Gamstop and are looking for safe yet unrestricted options. I found their KYC process smoother compared to others, and the withdrawal speed was impressive, taking just a few hours in some cases. September 23rd 1973 ~ December 6th 1981Russ Winstanley launched the famous Wigan Casino all-nighters on September 1973 at 2.00am, Russ attracted 700 soulies on this 1st occasion, and the admission was a princely 75p. The all nighter’s ran for 8 years until December 6th 1981 and over 4 million people flocked to station road. Russ hosted 4 nights a week with a total attendance each week of 10,000, twice the combined wigan rugby and soccer gates at this time.

Wigan Scenes

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Our Australian players are at the heart of everything we do, and we’re proud to serve a community that loves great games and exciting challenges. At WinGamb Casino, we’re passionate about what we do – and it shows in every corner of our platform. As a proud member of the online gaming world, we’ve created an environment that combines high energy, fair play, and cutting-edge technology to deliver something truly special for our players. It was in September 1973 that Wigan Casino played host to its first soul all-nighter, with DJ Russ Winstanley selecting the soundtrack for that monumentous night. Before too long, the Casino all-nighters amassed an unparalleled reputation, and the perpetually grey streets of Wigan were suddenly full of soul-obsessed adolescents queueing up to visit this northern soul Mecca.

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“That’s how I learned to love the music and that’s how I learned to dance.” For eight years, the club was the epicentre of an unlikely musical subculture. With every bet placed, I accumulated points, which were redeemable for bonus cash and free spins. Their customer support is available 24/7 via chat, and I received responses within minutes, which is a big deal when real money is involved.

  • The all nighter’s ran for 8 years until December 6th 1981 and over 4 million people flocked to station road.
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  • Our Australian players are at the heart of everything we do, and we’re proud to serve a community that loves great games and exciting challenges.
  • Drugs had an unavoidable presence in the northern soul scene, right from the very beginning.
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  • It’s the thrill we see in every win, and the fun that never stops.

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Typified by an obsession with obscure, forgotten, and failed American soul records from years prior, DJs and soul obsessives quickly began to organise dances and all-nighters to share this great music with wider audiences. Some of the first northern soul all-nighters occurred in Manchester, at the iconic Twisted Wheel venue, where the trouble began. Wingamb Casino is a smaller online casino, according to my research and estimates of its revenues. The size and revenues of an online casino are important, because small gambling websites can theoretically struggle to pay out big wins to especially lucky players. On the other hand, big casinos should have sufficient cashflow to pay them out.