AN ICONIC Evesham nightspot is up for sale for the first time since it was established in the 1980s.
Marilyn’s, the town’s only nightclub is on the market with leisure and hospitality specialists Sidney Philips with a guide price of £150,000.
Could it be the end of an era for the heartbeat of Evesham’s nightlife dubbed the ‘club of love’?
The popular venue on Bridge Street is still owned by its founder Gary Benjamin who established it in the mid-1980s.
Gary, 72, has lived in Andorra for over two decades, and his son Sam has managed it for the last seven years.
Sam told the Observer he had decided the time was right to move on. “I turn 30 in December and want to do something different. It feels like I’ve reached the limit of what I can achieve with the business.”
He says when spoke to his dad about his plans and they mutually agreed that now would be a good time to sell.
“I want a fresh start and to take on a new challenge. I’d like someone to come in with fresh energy to put back into the club and hopefully take it to the next level.”
His plan is to move abroad and continue to work in the hospitality industry but in a city location.
“It’ll be 40 years by the time it sells so to own an independent family-run nightclub for four decades is an amazing achievement. It will be brilliant to pass it on to someone else who will hopefully take it to the next level.
“It’s a great little venue and there are not a lot of towns or even cities that have got a nightclub so to have one of this calibre is something to be really proud of.”
Resident DJ Adam H with Sam Benjamin. s
Since opening, Marilyn’s has been on a journey of music and dance through the decades, riding the wave along the way. For the main public nights, it’s now high energy, high tempo, bass-thumping music.
“We like to try and keep on top of all the latest trends and have a great selection of local DJs, some of the best in the Midlands,” says Sam.
Back in 1985 when the club flung open its doors the stand-out pop tracks of the year were Take On Me, the memorable synth-pop anthem by Norwegian band A-ha, and from across the pond came Madonna’s Into The Groove.
Meanwhile, homegrown talent Wham! Had a smash hit with I’m Your Man, whilst according to Tears for Fears, Everybody Wants To Rule The World.
For 39 years the heartbeat of Evesham’s nightlife scene has provided a fun night for generations of young people around the Vale and has also welcomed hundreds of stars over the years.
These have included Boy George, popular TV presenters Ant and Dec, and more recently reality star Joey Essex.
Sam says the venue prides itself on being a place for people of all ages and interests to kick back and have a good time. Marilyn’s is also where many Evesham couples first clapped eyes on each other.
“My parents met there, so it’s because of that place that I’m here and I think that’s probably a story for a lot of people in Evesham. It’s been like a right of passage for a lot of people in the town,” he adds.
“I know people get to an age when going out clubbing isn’t what they want to do but they can look back and remember they used to go there week in week out – it’s still here.”
Sam thinks that the fact that it has managed to stay the same is special and something the town should be proud of.
“It’s a fast-moving industry and not many venues last a handful of years without changing their name or doing a big re-brand.
He hopes that the new owners will not ditch tradition and keep the name.
“Not to have our stamp on it but because it’s such a massive part of the town and even if the name potentially changed, lots of people would still call it Marilyn’s.
“Of course, if someone buys it then it’s completely their decision but there are not many brands with 40 years of traction and recognition.”
Sam said it took him a while to come to the decision that it was time to move on and feels sadness at the thought of leaving.
“I’ve put a lot of effort into it and we’ve gone through the whole of the Covid pandemic during which time there was so much uncertainty.
“We re-opened halfway through, all sat down and wearing masks. We went through a difficult period where everyone was trying to pull together, staff and customers alike to make it work.
“I am definitely going to be sad to go, I’ve got a lot of friends and all the staff are amazing, all the customers are brilliant. I’m going to be sad to go but sometimes you’ve got to just make the decision and take the plunge.”
Did you meet your partner at Marilyn’s? Would you like to share your memories from the four decades? Send us your photos and stories to [email protected].
