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]
 The Queen’s Hall and Coffee House, Narberth | |
 | |
| Former names | Victoria Cinema |
|---|---|
| Address | 44 High Street, Narberth, Pembrokeshire, United Kingdom |
| Type | Music venue, Community hall |
| Capacity | 473 standing (271 sitting) |
| Construction | |
| Built | c.1912 |
| Opened | 1958 as The Queen’s Hall Narberth |
| Renovated | 1994 |
| Architect | Ken Morgan (1994 renovation) |
| Website | |
| thequeenshall | |
History and building
editFrom 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]
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
editIn 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]
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
editIn 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
edit- ^ 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.