My brother-in-law Dave was 16 years old when he and his band KYND supported The Who on one of their visits to Bath – back in the late sixties.
Something l didn’t previously know and something he passed on when l told him l was going to talk to a man who had written a couple of books about the pop scene in Bath around that time and featuring the Pavilion.
The building sits alongside the Leisure Centre and was first opened in September 1910 as The County Skating Rink to provide a hall for the roller skating craze.
Bath City Council bought it in 1930 and it was rebranded as a concert hall and christened The Pavilion.
It went on to host some of the biggest emerging bands and singers of the 1960s – including The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
Local author Tim Hurford was a teenager during those years and has written two books about those glorious musical years. One is based around The Fab Four and the other a more complete history of the 60s and the bands that came to Bath.
Wrapped up warm, we went for a stroll to talk about our generation and to stir a few of your memories l am sure.
Meanwhile, l am pleased to say there is still plenty of music at The Pavilion which also hosts book launches, art fayres, corporate events and was a vaccination centre during the Pandemic.
B&NES tell me the council is keen to promote it as a venue for community events via https://www.better.org.uk/venue-hire/venues/bath-pavilion
You can find out what’s on at the Pavilion here: https://betterboxoffice.co.uk/bath-pavilion/whats-on
Meanwhile, enjoy our chat!
Many (younger, or new) Bathonians may not have been here to witness the Beatles, but many of us will most certainly fondly remember the Pavilion more for our Covid jabs !!!
The fabulous disco balls & stars on the darkened ceilings made everyone smile & certainly cheered us all up, through those very bizarre months !!
A different sort of music, but in 1948 the Pavilion was also the venue for the first ever concert given by the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.