we have all watched shows in various venues, some were superb, some definitely weren't, the sort of places you wiped your feet on the way out. Others were relatively plush, with a good view of the ring anywhere in the hall, some had great atmosphere others were like morgues. let's hear about your favourite venues and worst venues and why.
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The pits tended to have a more authentically compelling fight atmosphere
"He always gave a better showing with a performance led opponent "
Beautiful wording, thanks Paul. Sums up so much of what we discuss. This week Tibor; othertimes others.
Makes me to wonder whether Les encouraged him to fill that, sorry but let's say it, rather unmemorable role?
Les knew the biz and the £££. I wonder if he had any plan for a more exuberant role for Dave?
So it all finished with Les's grin?
I do appreciate greatly that you answer these questions, PM.
Apologies for late reply re Dave Barrie,Dave was a likeable lad who certainly knew the moves always seemed a bit reticent
After a bout never witnessed Les offer advice or critism maybe this was done in private.I do remember Les watching Dave on the cushions and he always seemed quietly proud
On one such occasion I remember Dave was getting a hiding from a non cooperative opponent this guy told me later he needed to get noticed by the promoter I wasn't impressed neither was said promoter Asia happens.Les watched the whole bout and later in the dressing room he sidled up to Dave opponent and said You showed who's the gaffer didn't you lad,at first the guy who taken liberties thought this was an endorsement of his tactics but Les staring grin I think changed his mind.Dave never once did the you know who I am bit and was respected for it.He always gave a better showing with a performance led opponent such as Adrian Street.
1978 Kid 2 days ago
Nice looking pipe organ at the Public Hall, Preston!
It's good to see you again 1978 Kid. Nice to know you're still around. Yes the pipe organ in the Public Hall was quite magnificent. I first visited the Public Hall when I was about 5 or 6. For some reason we went every year to the Ideal Home Exhibition which visited. You wouldn't have thought so if you saw our house. Anyway, I was later told that the first time I saw the pipe organ I commented on the size of those big books.
This lad from oop north liked the Fairfield a lot.My favourite Hall was the Wryton stadium I can still smell the iron foundry smell as you arrived at higher bridge Street.Knowledgeable regular punters dark atmospheric Hall.Funny how certain halls attracted better bills not based size a case in point why did Mike Marino put on some legendary poor bills on at Battersea town hall
Nice looking pipe organ at the Public Hall, Preston!
My stomping ground of Preston had three halls during the time I was going. The Public Hall was a grand venue. Good atmosphere but with the ring towards one end you had to know where you wanted to sit for the best seats. The seats in the balcony were packed in and excruciatingly uncomfortable
Architecturally, the Saul Street Baths were more modern, interesting but less atmospheric
The worst one, totally soulless was the newly built (1972) Guild Hall
The modern day promotion Apex Pro Wrestling often use the Jurys Inn hotel in Milton Keynes. Unfortunately the beer prices reflect the venue
The Wryton Stadium was dirty , grubby inside and out but I saw some great shows there and a real roar from a crowd of 1000-1200.
The ring was at the bottom of a slope as it had been a cinema (the Palladium) and one advantage was that there were no pillars.
The ring was also quite a small one. (Compared to Belle Vue)
I wonder what bkendo thought of the venue:
And if Powerlock will allow me already to drift off topic, I wonder what bkendo remembers of Dave Barrie, in a context where Les was supposed to be so difficult. How did you view their relationship?
Winter Garden Eastbourne had very few plus points. Just an oval with wrestlers appearing from behind curtains at the sides. No tiered seating, no atmosphere.
Hastings Pier (RIP) was the real deal. Funnily enough, when I think back now, it's the acoustics I remember. Even move made an echo. Mal Kirk being posted and the hole ring moving. And it was an autograph hunter's dream with all the prey stranded 250 yards out in the English Channel.
Some of the most famous venues didn't float my boat at all: Fairfield Halls and, dare I say it, Belle Vue.
Hard to be objective about the Royal Albert Hall because it was just so exciting to be there.
I think ring size also comes into what makes a good venue.
For atmosphere even when I went in its final years St James Hall was superb, definitely looking shabby but made a great impression on a youngster, Newcastle City Hall was a good sized venue and a lot more luxurious holding around 2500 but although saw the majority of my shows there up to me late teens it didn't have the magic of St James Hall. The worst large venues I have been to in Newcastle for wrestling had to be the Metroradio Arena, comfort and atmosphere was definitely an afterthought in the building, and the O2 academy (formerly the Majestic where the Beatles made their debut in Newcastle), the place stinks, you can smell the toilets long before you get to them, the quality of the wrestling was fine but the venue does itself no favours. The best show I saw in recent years was the Bowlers Centre with people like Jushin Liger on the bill but the venue is desperate, its not too bad when it fills up but looks like a deserted warehouse when empty, if you wrecked the place I reckon you would be hard pushed to cause £50 worth of damage.
Seen some good shows in social clubs, and some of the larger concert rooms could create a great atmosphere in comfortable surrounding with reasonably priced refreshments and comfortable surroundings.
A lot of clubs like to get wrestling in as the promotion generally book the hall rather than venue booking the promotion which is the norm in social clubs for the entertainment so its a no lose situation for the club, and generally get a decent crowd depending on the promotion. I could continue to list venues I have attended but will hand over to other forum contributors and their thoughts
This is a topic that interests me. On paper (e.g. posters & handbills) they all seem the same, but I love the insights of those who were there about the quirks of each venue.