BBC Club cards were highly valued, they allowed you access to the BBC bar, with its competitively priced alcohol and food, and endless networking opportunities. The BBC bar in Birmingham was originally on the 2nd floor of the office block, and later moved to a small building across the Bourn brook from Pebble Mill, by the sports field.
Thanks to Keith Warrender for sharing his card.
Photo by Gerry King, no reproduction without permission.
This Mitchells and Butlers ale was produced to celebrate the opening of the new BBC Club at Pebble Mill in 1982. Amazing that a local brewery would produce a special label for this event, but then I suppose they knew how many pints would be drunk there over the years!
Thanks to Gerry King for resisting drinking the beer, and for sharing the photo.
Photos by Karen Bond, no reproduction without permission.
These photos of dancing in the BBC Pebble Mill Club date from the early 1990s. They mostly feature Pebble Mill series editor, Steve Weddle, taking to the dance floor, amongst others!
The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook Page:
Marie Phillips: ‘Funny you posted this today. We were lunching with friends today at The Boot in Lapworth and in walked Steph Silk who I have bumped into twice in a week after 25 years. She was meeting former Pebble Millers, including Jenny Brewer and ….. Steve Weddle also 25 years on. Great to see everyone and share a few laughs. Steve was excited about his recently published book – available on Amazon! It must be part of the aging process but nobody looks any different as the years roll by.’
Judith Markall: ‘Remember dances in Studio 9 at Carpenter Road!’
Bridget Vaughan: ‘Tall girl could be Bev Dartnall, bless her.’
Janet Collins: ‘Sure it’s Bev and is the other person Julie Knee?’
Steve Weddle: ‘What is he like? Don’t answer that! And yes, that could be Bev – she was always full of fun and frolics, god bless her.’
Balcony of the 2nd floor bar: Ivor Williams, Nigel Evans, Mike Bloore, John Burkill
Photo by Tim Savage
VT Office
When Pebble Mill was first built, the BBC Club was on the second floor, and became known affectionately by some as the VT Office. It was true that most of the VT staff could be found there at lunch time, and that many conversations with programme staff, producers, and directors took place there over a pint. That in a sense was the cauldron of ideas, that quite often led to innovative programme ideas that came to distinguish Pebble Mill. Departments were small enough, and the bar just about big enough that representatives from all disciplines could come together socially and exchange ideas.
I was only an occasional user, usually having ventured there to collect a Radio Times, but for some it was their regular lunchtime activity. It was there that the problem lay, in that it was just a bit too convenient on the 2nd floor, and more than one of my colleagues was recognised as having a drink problem, and sent on a “drying out” course by the BBC management. As space became more of a premium, the new Club building was built and the second floor returned to office space. I don’t remember the details of the changeover but the net result was that a more deliberate decision was needed to go to the club, rather than just falling out of the lift at the second floor.
Ray Lee
The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook Group:
Jane Clement: ‘Ah, the second floor bar – home of my first Pebble Mill job (barmaid) and the scene of many an interesting night (and lunchtime). The tales I could tell from both sides of the bar as a barmaid then a researcher, then an AP…The new Club that replaced it was never quite the same.’
Lynn Cullimore: ‘Ooh yes, some people I could mention did use it as their office but you are right, I am sure many programme ideas were thought up there. The new bar was never quite the same! I remember my first rum punch day (the first of many) – or rather there were parts of it that I forgot!’
Photo by Marie Phillips, no reproduction without permission.
In summer 1987 a massive water pipe ruptured in Selly Park and flooded the playing field, BBC Club, front car park and part of the Pershore Road.
The Club was out of action for several months, whilst the building dried out. The Club transferred back to the 2nd floor of the Pebble Mill office block whilst the refurbishment took place.
The photo shows the flooded playing fields, with the Club building visible in the bottom left hand corner, and the Pershore Road behind. It was taken from the main office block.