Heartfelt tributes to 'down-to-earth' Blackpool nightclub legend and The Tache pioneer who has died
“He was a laid back, nice, genuine guy and the customers loved him - he was down to Earth.”
Tributes have been made to a much-loved legend of Blackpool’s nightclub scene who has died.
The Tache Rock Venue announced the death of ‘big man’ Ron Blunden saying ‘it was with great sadness to learn of Ron’s passing’.
Ron was the pioneer of the original Tache nightclub in Cookson Street back in the early 1980s. He had since moved back to his native Scotland and passed away after a short illness.
In their announcement, The Tache Rock Venue said: “Ron ran the OG Tache and provided a safe and fun place for all of Blackpool’s rock scene and young weirdos like myself.
“You will be greatly missed and we shall be raising quite a few glasses in his honour at this Friday’s club at West Coast Rock Cafe. Please share your pics and memories of the big man. RIP Ron Blunden x”
The iconic club still lives on despite the original place being knocked down to make way for Blackpool Gateway development in 2012 - and many of Ron’s friends and people he knew in Blackpool were saddened to hear the news.
Rob Wynne, manager of West Coast Rock Cafe in Abingdon Street had known Ron for decades.
He said: “I’ve known Ron for many years from when The Tache was on Cookson Street, that’s how I got to know him, I used to go to the Tache myself.
“When we found out it was to be knocked down, Ron and I spoke about how to keep the Tache going. There was room above the Rose and Crown pub and he said as long as we kept the staff, DJ and door people, we could take the name and run it from there.
“So that’s what we did. He was at the old venue on the very last night, on the Thursday - and at the first opening at the new venue on the Saturday.
“But then I didn’t see him much after that but we do have a huge picture of him on the wall.
“He was a laid back, nice, genuine guy and the customers loved him - he was down to Earth.
“The Tache was the only alternative venue at the time, they are all alternative venues these days.
“We are going to organise a tribute night to him.”
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Stephen Pierre, owner of The Galleon, another long standing drinking establishment in Blackpool said: “He was quite a character, I remember seeing him at Sacred Heart Church - he certainly made an impact, he has left a legacy in The Tache.
“For what he’s brought to the town, he should be remembered.”
When news broke that The Tache would be knocked down, Ron told The Gazette that he was planning a final encore: “We are thinking of having a mini festival near the end, with the bands that have played here over the years.”
The last night was one to remember and Rob recalled how the final track to be played was Enter Sandman, one of Ron’s favourite hits from the rock genre.