Summary

Richard 'Dick' Favell reflects on his experience as a bouncer in the unregulated and rowdy nightlife of 1970s Britain, particularly at Sheffield's Hofbrauhaus, where he often faced violent confrontations but also met his future wife.

Abstract

Richard 'Dick' Favell, a former bouncer at the Hofbrauhaus in Sheffield during the 1970s, recounts the stark differences between the unregulated security environment of that era and the more controlled scene of today. With no licensing for security personnel, no CCTV, and the presence of football hooliganism, the job was fraught with danger. Favell, now 75, looks back fondly on his time at the Hofbrauhaus, where he had to prevent underage drinking, stop patrons from bringing in their own beer, and maintain order among the 900 patrons who were often served strong German lager in two-pint steins. Despite the potential for violence, which included regular brawls and even a bite to his ear, Favell cherishes the memories and the camaraderie, and he has no regrets about his time as a bouncer. His most treasured memory is meeting his wife Sue at the club, with whom he is about to celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary.

Opinions

Favell has a positive retrospective view of his time as a bouncer, indicating he would not change the experience.
He acknowledges the inherent dangers of the job, including frequent fights and the threat of serious injury.
Favell believes in the importance of de-escalation techniques, learning when to strike or when to calm situations.
Despite the potential for violence, he values the relationships formed and the memorable experiences he had during his tenure at the Hofbrauhaus.
The article suggests that the unregulated nature of the security industry in the 1970s contributed to a more chaotic and potentially more exciting environment for bouncers like Favell.

Confessions of a bouncer from the unregulated world of ’70s Britain

Richard ‘Dick’ Favell — bouncer at the Hofbrauhaus in the 1970s. A

A job as a nightclub bouncer has never really been a career for the faint-hearted.

These days it’s a far more regulated and, many would argue, safer for both security and punters considering doorperson licensing schemes, CCTV and a mobile phone’s ability to record things in a blink of an eye.

But roll the clock back to the mid-1970s and it was arguably the Wild West as far as door security was concerned.

No licensing for security people, no CCTV, no plastic glasses and football hooliganism on the rise.

Rick ‘Dick’ Favell wouldn’t change things for the world. “I’d do it all again”, he happily admits.

The Sheffield-born lad, now a sprightly 75-years-old, cut his teeth (not literally but he did feel someone elses embedded in his ear on one particular night) at a pretty feisty hotspot — Arundel Gate’s Hofbrauhaus.

“We were almost guaranteed three fights a night — and they weren’t small. It was wild in there. Coach trips would arrive from all over the region.”

Rich Favell was stationed at the Hofbrauhaus’ top door. “They’d be queuing four deep by the time we opened at 9pm and it was my job to ensure big gangs of lads weren’t admitted”. That’s where the trouble would normally arise — unsurprisingly.

“I’d also need to check people were old enough to get in and ensure the ladies weren’t bringing in their own beer in their handbags.”

There’d regularly be 900 in and, considering the strength of the lager — they served super strength imported German beer when most of the UK was serving the drink at three per centre alcohol — it was a recipe for, well, a lively night.

Oh and they served the beer in two-pint stein glasses.

“There were only three rules in the Hofbrauhaus”, said Richard Favell. “No dancing on the tables, people had to wear proper shoes to avoid the broken glass on the floor and there was no football chanting.”

Rich Favell had to get quickly adept at a skill most of us has never needed — single-handedly taking on four to five lads in a fight.

“You had to learn when to strike and when not to strike”, he said. “But the main thing was to try and do everything to calm the situation down. If that didn’t work you’d got a split second to make the right decision. You needed to take the lead one down and then the rest. You then got them out of the club and the police would take over from there.”

Richard ‘Dick’ Favell in the thick of the action (bottom right)

Rich Favell, who went on to run successful businesses away from the licensing trade, is surprisingly matter-of-fact about his time as a bouncer which also included time working at Chesterfield venues like Jingles, Adam & Eve, Aquarius and the notorious Painted Wagon.

He talks with gusto about one night at the Hofbrauhaus when a gang turned up with the sole purpose of taking on the bouncers.

“I was pinned in a corner with one biting my ear.”

But the true memento he holds dear from his time at the Hofbrauhaus is his wife Sue — they met after she arrived on a coach from Chesterfield and they’re about to celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary!

Richard ‘Dick’ Favell wearing a policeman’s helmet after another Hofbrauhaus altercation

Read more about life at the Hofbrauhaus in my ‘Dirty Stop Out’s Guide to 1970s Sheffield’ — click here for more info