Performance venue in Narberth, Wales
The Queen’s Hall Narberth is a live events venue and community hall in Pembrokeshire , Wales. In 1970 the venue hosted Elton John’s first performance in Wales.[ 1]
History and building
From 1912 to 1930 the building was a Cine-variety . From 1930 to 1947 it was the Victoria Cinema.[ 2] In 1953 it was bought by the local community to become a community hall.[ 3] The Queen’s Hall was opened on 1 Feb 1958 by the High Sheriff of Pembrokeshire , Joseph Edward Gibby.[ 4]
The main hall at Queen's Hall, Narberth
It is a registered charity and run by a board of trustees. It comprises a café, five meeting rooms and a main hall with a standing capacity of 473. It hosts music performances, comedy, films, markets and community events.[ 5]
Music
In the late 1960s, a fundraising initiative by Ivor Badham for Narberth A.F.C. “ended up as a stream of up-and-coming bands” heading to the hall[ 6] playing to crowds of up to 1,000 people (pre-health and safety laws).[ 7] The revenue from the gigs meant Narberth A.F.C. was able to build a brand-new football stadium.[ 8]
Performers in the late 1960s and 1970s included: Deep Purple (13 September 1969), Elton John (13 June, 1970),[ 9] Status Quo (22 November 1969), Desmond Dekker (1969), Hot Chocolate (26 December 1969),[ 10] Chicken Shack , Simon Dupree and the Big Sound (17 August 1968), Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich (22 June 1968),[ 11] Dr. Feelgood , Alan Price ,[ 12] Wishbone Ash ,[ 13]
Freddie and the Dreamers , The Mindbenders , Average White Band , Amen Corner , Love Affair (27 July 1968),[ 14] The Move (15 April 1968),[ 15] The Animals , The Tremeloes , Herman’s Hermits , Gerry and the Pacemakers , The Who , Small Faces , The Dave Clark Five , The Hollies , The Moody Blues , The Lovin' Spoonful , Long John Baldry , The Troggs , Manfred Mann , The Kinks , The Swinging Blue Jeans , Wayne Fontana , The Fourmost , The Honeycombs , Billy J. Kramer , Crispian St. Peters , PJ Proby , Cat Stevens , Dave Berry (9 March 1968), Leapy Lee , Thunderclap Newman (16 August 1969), Marmalade (7 April 1969) and The Equals (26 April 1969).[ 16]
Elton John's 1970 performance at Queen's Hall, Narberth
More recent acts have included: David Gray (1999), All About Eve (2001), Therapy? (2006), Sandi Thom (2006), Gruff Rhys (2007), Sophie Ellis-Bextor (2008),[ 17] The Damned (2008), Ronnie Scott’s All Stars (2016),[ 18] Arrested Development (2021),[ 19] Feeder (11 March 2022) and Gun (2023).[ 20]
Recent history
In 1994 the hall underwent major refurbishment[ 21] and in 2020 it won £3,100 of National Lottery funding to create an archive and permanent exhibition about its musical heritage.[ 22] In 2017 the Queen’s Hall won the Live Entertainment Venue of the Year award in the Welsh Hospitality Awards.[ 23] In 2023 it received £1,717 in funding from Music Venue Trust to soundproof its windows.[ 24]
References
^ Ruth Davies (2020-06-26). "Elton John's first headline gig was in Narberth in 1970" . westerntelegraph.co.uk . Retrieved 2023-07-01 .
^ Editha Pearce. "Victoria Cinema / Queen's Hall" . cinematreasures.org . Retrieved 2023-07-02 .
^ Vivyan Ellacott. "Victoria Cinema / Queen's Hall" (PDF) . overthefootlights.co.uk . Retrieved 2023-07-02 .
^ "The Queen's Hall, Narberth" . Carmarthen Journal . Carmarthen, Wales. 1994-04-27. p. 10.
^ Rachael Misstear (2015-11-16). "The Queen's Hall, Narberth: a guide to getting to getting there and venue itself" . walesonline.co.uk . Retrieved 2023-07-02 .
^ "Elton John and Status Quo's Narberth gigs to be celebrated" . bbc.co.uk . 2019-06-07. Retrieved 2023-07-02 .
^ "Narberth's golden era of rock and pop remembered" . heritagefund.org.uk . 2019-06-07. Retrieved 2023-07-01 .
^ "Narberth's golden era of rock and pop remembered" . heritagefund.org.uk . 2019-06-07. Retrieved 2023-07-01 .
^ Ruth Davies (2020-06-26). "Elton John's first headline gig was in Narberth in 1970" . westerntelegraph.co.uk . Retrieved 2023-07-01 .
^ "When Elton John played Narberth – share your memories" . westerntelegraph.co.uk . 2020-01-28. Retrieved 2023-07-01 .
^ Ruth Davies (2020-06-15). "Queen's Hall, Narberth launches £8,000 funding appeal with incentives for donations" . westerntelegraph.co.uk . Retrieved 2023-07-01 .
^ Bruce Sinclair (2019-02-06). "Pembrokeshire Hall, where Elton John performed, to launch refurbishment appeal" . westerntelegraph.co.uk . Retrieved 2023-07-01 .
^ "Queen's Hall to host dancefloor doyenne" . westerntelegraph.co.uk . 2007-05-28. Retrieved 2023-07-01 .
^ Observer Reporter (2019-06-08). "Narbeth's golden era of pop and rock remembered thanks to National Lottery" . Narberth-and-whitland-today.co.uk . Retrieved 2023-07-01 .
^ "Concerts in Narberth, United Kingdom" . guestpectacular.com . Retrieved 2023-07-01 .
^ "Roll call of top rock bands at The Queen's Hall" . thequeenshall.org.uk . Retrieved 2023-07-01 .
^ "Long Live the Queen('s Hall)" . westerntelegraph.co.uk . 2008-01-22. Retrieved 2023-07-01 .
^ Tenby Observer (2016-02-03). "The Ronnie Scott's club comes to Pembrokeshire" . tenby-today.co.uk . Retrieved 2023-07-01 .
^ Paul Evans (2021-06-10). "Grammy Winning Arrested Development heading to Narberth's Queen's Hall venue" . tenby-today.co.uk . Retrieved 2023-07-01 .
^ Paul Evans (2023-03-30). "Rock icons GUN heading to Pembrokeshire for special acoustic set" . tenby-today.co.uk . Retrieved 2023-07-01 .
^ "The Queen's Hall, Narberth" . Carmarthen Journal . Carmarthen, Wales. 1994-04-27. p. 10.
^ "When Elton John played Narberth – share your memories" . westerntelegraph.co.uk . 2020-01-28. Retrieved 2023-07-01 .
^ "Award winners - Live Entertainment Venue of the Year 2017" . thequeenshall.org.uk . Retrieved 2023-07-01 .
^ Tom Sinclair (2023-02-23). "Venue funding will reduce noise complaints" . pembrokeshire-herald.com . Retrieved 2023-07-01 .
51°47′58″N 4°44′39″W / 51.79941162°N 4.74428706°W / 51.79941162; -4.74428706