TWO businessmen are launching a club night at Orsett Hall which draws on the soul of one of Canvey Island’s best loved night clubs of the 1970s and 1980s.

The Goldmine, which was well known throughout Essex for its jazz, funk and soul nights, first hosted by DJ Chris Hill, closed more than 20 years ago. But now, the Goldmine name is being restored and brought to Thurrock.

Steve Abbs and Simon Croft, who are award-winning businessmen and DJs for pubs in South Ockendon and Aveley, will launch the first soul night on Friday, November 8, bringing to fruiting a long-held ambition to restore the Goldmine name.

At least four more nights will follow, going by the name Five Star Soul at the Goldmine, Orsett Hall.

Both men are passionate about soul music and are seeking to capitalise on the genre’s recent surge in popularity, which has been spearheaded by the emergence of internet radio stations such as ZeroRadio and JFSR.

Steve, who lives on Canvey, said: “I used to go to the Goldmine when I wasn’t working myself. “People would flock in from all around the country just to be part of the famous soul scene.

“The club was demolished over 20 years ago which has left us with just good memories.”

Simon said the project had taken the best part of four years to get off the ground: “We worked on setting the business side up first to make it official by way of trade marking the wording and logos.

“The wording took 18 months alone, as we had to get special authorisation from a national company using the same name within our classification.”

A donation from ticket sales will be given to St Luke’s Hospice in Basildon.

The final line up of the DJs for the November event will be announced in the next few weeks.

For more information, go to www.iamagoldminer.com or www.orsetthall.co.uk