The Ritz Ballroom, Brighouse

[vernon]

Last night I went to The Ritz to see Paul Carrack. It's a unique experience I think.

The venue has sufficient tables and chairs to accommodate the entire audience but also has a dance floor leading right up to the stage allowing the audience to stand feet away from the performers.

The unique aspect is the ability to purchase pie and peas throughout the performance. For those who can't stomach pie and peas, plated sandwiches were also available and tea and coffee.

I wasn't allowed a pie as we'd been for a curry beforehand.

For future reference fan of Paul Carrack should scan the Ritz web site around late November each year as the January gigs are not publicised - apparently they are performed as a long standing favour for someone connected to Brighouse/Ritz.

Any other oddities amongst venues out there?

 

[longers]

I don't get out as much as I should but really liked the Picturedrome in Holmfirth recently.

 

[vernon]

I don't get out as much as I should but really liked the Picturedrome in Holmfirth recently.

I saw Roy Wood there last month. Great gig. Interesting venue. No pies though....

 

[longers]

No pies for us either but lime and soda was fifty p a pint.

 

[Cubist]

Both those are fantastic fun venues. The Ritz was THE Motown and Northern Soul venue to be at all through the seventies and eighties. The Picturedrome has the most amazing lineups in the world (if you cut your teeth on live music in the late 70s that is!) Damned, Stranglers, and many many more in recent months. Holmfirth is great for a night out on the piss anyway, with more real ale pubs than you can shake a stick at, some good curry restaurants, and you don't spend the whole night avoiding drunken vomiting f*ckwits.

 

[Globalti]

Much though I dislike Blackpool, the Tower Ballroom Suite is stunning; I went all choked with emotion when I visited the place.

 

[Steve H]

It shames me to say this Vernon, but I live within a couple of miles of the Ritz Ballroom, but have never been inside it. The steps outside the front door have served a couple of useful purposes though other than as an entrance to the venue. A great spot to stand to watch the floats of the Brighouse Gala go by in the summer, and as a meeting spot for a number of cycling clubs in the area!

 

[vernon]

It shames me to say this Vernon, but I live within a couple of miles of the Ritz Ballroom, but have never been inside it. The steps outside the front door have served a couple of useful purposes though other than as an entrance to the venue. A great spot to stand to watch the floats of the Brighouse Gala go by in the summer, and as a meeting spot for a number of cycling clubs in the area!

It's worth paying a visit. I've seen Paul Carrack there three times over the past six years. It used to house a Wurlitzer organ and had regular recitals. Unfortunately before I got around to attending a recital the Ritz owners were reported to have sold the place to a developer to build an old folks home on the site and the Wurltitzer society removed their treasure elsewhere. It seems that the local furore over the proposed sale lead to a change of heart and the place seems to be going from strength to strength.

 

[TVC]

I don't get out as much as I should but really liked the Picturedrome in Holmfirth recently.

I liked it, saw Half Man Half Biscuit there.

The Y theatre in Leicester is sweet and has a nice cosy vibe about it. The Students Union at Leicester Uni always reminded me of a school assembly hall, you always felt like you should stand straight with your hands out of your pockets there.

 

[longers]

Was that you down the front in yellow? We say you outside if it was, brave man to put shorts on in that weather.
What did you think of the support?

There was an all nighter at the Midland Hotel in Morecambe that was a great chance to get inside for a nosey. Very scenic with having the bay to spill out into.