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\n\t\tThe Acapulco Club founder Ted\u2019s son Chez Turczak outside the venue (Picture: Cover Images)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tThe Acapulco Club founder Ted\u2019s son Chez Turczak outside the venue (Picture: Cover Images)<\/p>\n
The oldest operating nightclub in the UK is after a blue plaque to recognise its place in British history \u2013 and its extremely cheap drinks.<\/p>\n
The Acapulco nightclub in Halifax, West Yorkshire, opened in 1961 and even to this day, punters can still buy a drink for just 75p.<\/p>\n
To mark its 65th anniversary, the iconic venue has launched a campaign to secure a Halifax Civic Trust Blue Plaque, which would stand as a lasting tribute for future generations, celebrating the club\u2019s unique place in the cultural and social history of the town.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tQueues stretch down the street during a busy night at the Acapulco (Picture: Cover Images)<\/p>\n
The club was founded by Polish immigrant Ted Turczak, who came to Britain after escaping the horrors of the Second World War. Originally opening as what was almost an illegal casino, the venue went on to become a Halifax institution before passing to Ted\u2019s children, Chez and Chris Turczak, and later to current owner Simon Jackson.<\/p>\n
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Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates<\/a> newsletter or get Breaking News<\/a> alerts the moment it happens. <\/p>\n Simon first joined Acapulco as a DJ in 1992 before taking over the club four years later in 1996 and has since helped maintain its reputation as one of the UK\u2019s most lasting nightlife venues.<\/p>\n Known affectionately by locals as The Mighty Acca, the nightclub has built a loyal following thanks to its nostalgic atmosphere, community spirit and famously cheap drinks, which have been priced at 75p before 11pm for the past two decades.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018We\u2019ve set all our drinks at 75 pence for the last 20 years,\u2019 said Simon. <\/p>\n \u2018The idea was that people who don\u2019t have that much money can come in, enjoy a night out and help get the club busy. Then those who want to stay a little later can spend a bit more on drinks.\u2019<\/p>\n But Simon believes it is the atmosphere and sense of belonging that have kept people returning through the generations.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s still very much a 1980s, 1990s nightclub. It\u2019s quite party orientated, so you\u2019ll still get things like Village People played. But it\u2019s got character and obviously it\u2019s done alright. It\u2019s been going for 65 years and it\u2019s still going strong now.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t Unlike many modern venues, Simon says Acapulco has always focused on entertainment and the local community, regularly hosting giveaways, family-friendly events including a summer<\/a> festival and special nights for people who may otherwise struggle to access nightlife.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s not like a normal nightclub where it\u2019s all about raves, drugs and profit,\u2019 he said. \u2018This is more of a local thing; it\u2019s more about entertainment and enjoying yourself.\u2019<\/p>\n The club hosts regular Special Educational Needs (SEN) nights, inviting children and young people with learning difficulties or disabilities<\/a> to experience the excitement of a nightclub in a safe, alcohol-free and welcoming environment.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018I think we are the only nightclub in the area that do it, because nobody will touch it because they\u2019ll say, \u201cOh, can\u2019t do it for insurance,\u201d and all sorts of rubbish,\u2019 Simon said. <\/p>\n \u2018Anyhow, somebody came to us and said, \u201cWould you do this?\u201d we just said, yeah. And now we do them, and they\u2019re really nice and they\u2019re successful. They pay \u00a38 entry, but everything is free when they get inside.\u2019<\/p>\n The SEN nights take place four to six times a year, often around major holidays such as Easter<\/a>, Halloween<\/a> and Christmas<\/a>, and Simon says the events are just as meaningful for parents as they are for the young people attending.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s also the parents, because they think their kids will never get to go to a nightclub and experience all that stuff,\u2019 he said. \u2018And the kids tend to like the moving lights and a little bit of sound and smoke, it\u2019s quite exciting.\u2019<\/p>\n For other customers, Simon says the Acapulco continues to offer a place where people can enjoy a night out without spending a fortune.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018The majority of the nights, it\u2019s people that want to come out, forget all their worries, and not have to spend a fortune,\u2019 he said. \u2018You\u2019re not spending 50 quid on drinks. You can literally come out with 20 quid and probably go home with change.\u2019<\/p>\n Simon was first encouraged to apply for a blue plaque after two separate people suggested the idea, before someone eventually put the club forward for consideration. <\/p>\n While he is proud that Acapulco is being recognised after 65 years, Simon says the campaign is also about giving back to the community that has supported the venue for decades.<\/p>\n The full cost of a Halifax Civic Trust Blue Plaque is approximately \u00a3650, and any money raised above that target will be donated to Halifax Street Angels, a local charity<\/a> that works on Friday and Saturday nights to keep the streets safe and support vulnerable people in the night-time economy<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018It\u2019s only \u00a3650, but I thought, if everybody donates, and we can get thousands involved, then maybe we can raise thousands for the Halifax Street Angels,\u2019 Simon said. \u2018And it\u2019ll keep them going for another couple of years.\u2019<\/p>\n For Simon, the plaque would also recognise the resilience of a venue that has survived some of the toughest periods for the hospitality industry, including the Covid pandemic and the closure of many nearby establishments.<\/p>\n \u2018At the moment, with so many pubs, clubs and restaurants closing, it just shows people there\u2019s still a bit of hope,\u2019 he said. \u2018We\u2019ve had hard times \u2013 some very hard times. But if you keep persevering, you can get through them, can\u2019t you?\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018I think originally, if I\u2019m going back maybe 20 years ago, there was probably about eight or nine nightclubs, and now there\u2019s just us left.\u2019<\/p>\n You can donate to the GoFundMe page here<\/a>: <\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/coverimages55879880-33a2.jpg\")
\n\t\tFootballer George Best, middle, visited Acapulco in the 1970s (Picture: Cover Images)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/coverimages55879980-8b74.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe club is a throwback to the 1980s and 90s (Picture: Cover Images)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/coverimages55879877-dffa.jpg\")
\n\t\tCurrent club owner Simon Jackson, who first joined as a DJ in the 90s (Picture: Cover Images)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/coverimages55879976-8a24.jpg\")
\n\t\tAcapulco hosts special nights for young people with special needs. (Credit: Cover Images)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/coverimages55879879-fc33.jpg\")
\n\t\tClub staff in 1987. (Credit: Cover Images)<\/p>\n
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