Construction started on Centre Halls, Woking in 1973, opening in the mid ’75. It was demolished in the late 80’s, along with Centre Pool and Woking Library, to make room for The Peacocks shopping centre. The Centre Halls included the Rhoda McGrew Theatre, library and swimming pool along with the “Concert” Hall.
By late ’77, early ’78, the Centre Hall was becoming a bit of a regular venue, thanks in part to Joy ? who booked ‘not so mainstream’ bands for the Centre Halls. Those bands included the likes of: The Stranglers (9 Feb ’77), and The Crabs (24 Sept ’77 & 20 May ’78). Wilko Johnson made Woking’s Centre Halls a late addition to his tour, appearing at the venue on 29 November ’77. Sham 69 opened ’78 with a gig at the venue on 5 January; a gig that ran so late the last train to Guildford was missed by several gig-goers who walked home with snow on the ground.
Two weeks later, with tickets retailing for a quid, Sham 69 were back; with Master Switch, Menace and local band Crisis – who replaced Speedometers in support on 19 Jan ’78. Crisis’ vocalist Frazer Towman came on and rushed about the stage wearing a mask. And of course not forgetting Tubeway Army’s appearance in May that same year. The Stranglers and Sham 69 gigs both featured a bit of argy-bargy, in fact a front door was ripped off before the 19 January Sham 69 gig even started.
Woking’s Music Festival was held at the Centre Halls in November ’80, and Panther were the solitary rock band at the festival on 29 November. Other local bands that also took to the stage were Ribs, who were supported by The Outpatients, on 1 December ’77; FFile, The Early Years, and Flashback. Centre Halls, Woking also held a popular disco night with many a teen holding a Top Twenty Club Membership card in the late 70’s /, early 80’s.
In ’87, Ob-Jay-Da won a talent competition, judged by David Jason and others, with their performance of “Amoureuse”, that was held at the Halls. The 4 September ’88 pretty much saw the last live band event at Centre Halls. ABC Music’s Showcase ’88 featured 8 bands, including 5 local groups: The Button Factory, Napalm Groove Squad, The 68 Floods, Van Gogh and the Earlobes, and Steel Bill and the Buffalos – who headlined and won the showcase; as well as the non-locals City Limits, Colour Noise, and Havana Affair. It was rumored that Sammy Rats Big Big Blues Band would be on the bill for Showcase ’88; but it wasn’t to be. Van Gogh and the Earlobes, supported by Napalm Grove Squad, also played at the venue for a Brooklands College party in ’87/’88.
In late 1988 the Centre Halls were demolished. Joy has regrettably left us.
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