(c’51-56) Situated in the T.A. Centre (Drill Hall), on Sandfield Terrace, Guildford the venue hosted promoter Syd Norris’ ‘One Night Stands’ on Saturday nights. Regulars to the New Ballroom would pop across York Road to get their ‘refreshments’ at The Elm Tree, now The Boiler Room, as the venue was alcohol free.
The building itself was originally used as the “Japanese Village” at the Edinburgh Exhibition and was transported and re-erected at a cost of £1,000 plus £1,500 for a 21 year lease of the land on which it was to stand in 1891. The hall, of corrugated iron and wood, was 18ft high, 120ft long, 52ft 6ins wide and ‘paved’ with wood blocks, was officially opened on 18 July 1891 as the Drill Hall of The Queen’s Royal Surrey Regiment.
The venue posted the ‘house full’ sign at 8:30pm on 10 February ’51 for the Johnny Dankworth Seven, much to Norris’ satisfaction, who wrote to Dankworth’s agent, the Wilcox Organisation, praising the band. Syd Norris Entertainments, who also handled Dorking Halls, booked Graeme Bell’s Australian Jazz Band for 3 March ’51 and Freddy Randall three weeks later on 24 March. The Ray Ellington Quartet performed on 19 December ’53 and for the three celebratory nights of Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and New Years Eve Freddy Faulkner and His Band – who were the house band for a spell – along with vocalist Johnny Lawrence entertained the crowds.
The first concert on ’54 was on 2 January and featured Vic Lewis and his Orchestra. On 24 April ’54 it was the turn on NME poll winning trumpet player Kenny Baker and his quartet. The following Saturdays progressed with Gracie Cole and her All Girls’ Orchestra (1 May), Sid Phillips and his Band (8 May), and Freddy Faulkner and His Band returned on 15 May. The next month saw a double header directed by Ronnie Aldrich on 29 May that featured The Squadronaires and the Harry Bence Orchestra. Jumping to ’55, on 5 March, the Frank Wier Orchestra played the New Ballroom as part of a national tour, bringing the voices of Ric Richards, Jean Hudson, Lisa Ashwood, and Russ Hurren with them.
Over the years the venue was open it also hosted Lonnie Donegan and Chas McDevitt with their respective groups, in addition to the above.
Notably, during the floods on ’65 the police and army evacuate several people from along the River Wey and took then to the Drill Hall, where almost 250 people were accommodated.
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