The Queens Hall has been described as the most significant venue in Widnes and also as a local factory of curiosity and expression. Well known for The Beatles appearances in ‘62 & ‘63 and as a thriving Mersey Beat hub for both local and Liverpool based bands such as The Cheetahs and Lee Curtis and The All Stars, it also hosted BBC Northern Orchestra, Julian Cope, Shack, Bob Geldof and Rick Wakeman, and was the go to venue for the local music scene through to the early 2000’s.

Catering for a broad range of musical tastes, Steps performed at The Queens Hall at the regular youth disco known as the ‘Frenzie nights’ in 2002.

Originally a Wesleyan Methodist Church built in 1864, it became The Queens Hall in 1957 with the regeneration work overseen by Cllr John Collins.

The name of one local band is repeated as being responsible for many budding musicians believing it was possible for bands from Halton to be noticed and taken seriously. That band was Great And Lady Soul. Comprising of Greg Oldfield, Damian Roscoe, Dave Wycherley, Stewart and Tim Leather and Tony Dagnall, the band were managed and championed by Runcornian Stephen Dale. They signed a deal with Virgin records in 1988 due to the interest in their demo tapes and live performances across the North West, with support from Ad Lib Audio they had a positive and professional attitude.

The first Queens Hall gig they played was thanks to ‘Second Identity’ who asked them to support, from then on, they hosted their own gigs with other local bands such as Pride and Prejudice and Halfway To Eddie.

Whilst with Virgin, they released two singles, recorded an album and toured the UK supporting dance and pop band Londonbeat.

The album was never released and the band and Virgin parted ways after 18 months. Some members of the band went on to create The Devereux’s and some pursued solo endeavours. The experience was life changing, spending extended periods in London with producers Jamie Lane and with Gary Stevonson on the Isle of Man and shooting a video with the celebrated director Matt Lipsey.

With increasing costs, the ageing building was closed 2004 and sadly demolished in 2012.

The final gig at the Queens Hall was April 24^th, 2004, organised by Greg Oldfield & Andrew ‘Splodge’ Rogerson as an ‘Earthhum’ event.