Belper was buzzing this weekend as the town slipped back into the decade of neon, perms, shoulder pads and cassette tapes for the hugely anticipated Belper 80s Day.
From early afternoon, the streets were filled with colour as locals and visitors alike donned their best 80s outfits – everything from Madonna lookalikes to Top Gun pilots, power suits to punk rockers. One local summed it up perfectly: “It was like stepping straight into 1985 – the whole town went for it.”
Selfies with 80s Icons
A special highlight came from the 80s Star Poster Trail, which had people flocking between the town’s 19 participating venues to snap selfies with posters of pop icons. From Sam Fox at The Nags Head to Arkwright and Granville at Arkwrights Bar on Campbell Street, Freddie Mercury at The Keys, Ozzy Osbourne at Scran and Barrel, and Crockett & Tubbs at The Railway, the challenge sparked laughter and competition among groups of friends determined to collect them all.
The venues playing their part included: Tyler’s Bar, The Nags Head, Arkwright’s Real Ale Bar, The Cross Keys, Scran and Barrel ,The Railway, The Lion, Angels, The Black Swan, Belper House, Monk Bar, Gatsby’s, Bottle Bank, The Green House, The Thorn Tree, Nourish at No.44, Crich Brewery and The Royal British Legion, each bringing its own 80s flair. With so many venues involved, the whole town centre became one giant retro playground.
Magnum PI with Madonna
Packed Dancefloors
By evening, many pubs and bars were packed to the rafters as DJs turned back the clock with classic 80s hits. At Tyler’s Bar, dancefloors heaved as local legend Wiz Fox took to the decks, spinning everything from Duran Duran to Wham!, while crowds sang along and filled the floor.
“I don’t think I’ve danced that much in years,” laughed Sarah from Ripley, who came dressed head-to-toe in neon. “It felt like the whole town was just one big party.”
Another visitor, Dave from Belper, said: “It’s brilliant to see so many local pubs and bars getting involved. You could feel the atmosphere right through the town – Belper knows how to party.”
A True Community Celebration
With every venue contributing, the event proved not only a celebration of music and nostalgia but also a huge boost for local businesses. Organisers praised the turnout, describing it as one of the most successful town events in recent years.
Belper 80s Day proved that, just for one day, the 21st century could wait – the spirit of the 80s was alive and well, and Belper was the place to be.
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