Mersey Venues: The Hope Hall
Hope Street, Liverpool

By Bill Harry  

May 8 1964

The Roadrunners - first group to play at Hope HallThere will be a double celebration at one of Merseyside's most popular venues next Wednesday night when the new £8,000 extensions open at Hope Hall on the third anniversary of the club's opening.

The extensions, which will enlarge the dancing space at the club by about three times, include two licensed bars, and the present dance floor will be converted into a 'sitting out' area, with tables and chairs so that the dance floor is kept quite free.

When the club opened three years ago the premises in Hope Street comprised the present licensed bar and a coffee bar. But the coffee bar was closed down after 18 months and the club began to feature groups - on Sunday nights only at first.

Then about a year ago the club began to provide group music on five nights per week, and the idea caught on.

Owner Leslie Blond told Mersey Beat: "We want to keep in touch with modern trends and are trying to provide what is wanted. The club will be one of the most comfortable and 'with it' places on Merseyside - we have gone to a great deal of trouble and expense to make it so."

The new extensions have been provided with a special terrazzo dance floor, made by laying the material in liquid form and then allowing it to set. Said Mr blond: "It makes an ideal surface for dancing."

The latest lighting equipment has also been installed, together with three microphones and loudspeakers, which will be situated in suitable places in the club.

Designed to accomodate between 500 and 600 people, the club's extensions will be open five nights a week, from Wednesdays to Saturdays inclusive. The premises will probably be available for hire on the other two evenings.

Hope Hall extension opens advertNext Wednesday will also be a double celebration for the group who will open the extensions - the Roadrunners, for they were also the first group to play at the Hope Hall. Appearing with them will be the Clayton Squares.

Mr Blond said: "We will be featuring R&B groups only, including the Cordes and the Georgians, and we want to give up-and-coming groups an opportunity too - those that have the Merseyside vigour!"

The club will be open to members and bona fide guests only. Admission prices for members will vary from 2s 6d on Wednesday nights to 4s 6d for Saturday, Sunday and holiday nights, and guests' admission prices will range from 3s 6d om Wednesdays to 6s at weekends.

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