Opened by its namesake HRH Prince Phillip, The Duke of Edinburgh on 22 May 1973; the Princes Hall, Aldershot is owned and managed by Rushmoor Council. It seats about 600 in the main auditorium, with additional function rooms; and sits on the corner of Wellington Avenue and Princes Way.
While officially opened in ’73, the opening ‘gala concert’ at the hall, which was built on the site of the old Warburg Barracks, featured Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen in November ’72.
On 5 March ’79, Martha Reeves and her Vandellas performed at Princes Hall. Late the next year, on 4 November ’80, The Mode supported Polaris. The Buzz Club moved their gig, with Terry & Gerry and Inspector Tuppence & The Sexy Firemen, to the Princes Hall on 16 February ’86, as heavy snow on the roof of the West End Centre, Aldershot deemed the club’s regular venue unsafe. Later that year, on 15 August the Ministry of Sound, supported by the newly formed Bluetrain and West One, took to the stage. Local promoters and bands would often hire the function rooms to put on gigs. On 17 September ’86 Java, with support from West One did just that; and West One were back on 8 November ’86; and Java, supported by Schutt, and Monterrez, returned on 10 April ’87. That same year Rick Wakeman played the main stage on 25 July. The next year, on 4 May ’88, West One were back yet again: this time competing in the Battle for the Limelight against Paper Moon, UxB, and Rising Signs. Just over two weeks later, on 21 May, Suzi Quattro rocked the hall. The next year, We Are Going to Eat You made an appearance on 3 May ’89.
Refurbishment began in the late ’89, reopening in December 1990. Big Sun were managed by Sean Connor, who worked at Princes Hall, and one of their earliest gigs saw them step in for Railroad Earth at the venue on 1 May ’91 with Trousershock BC and Peachrazor in support. The security for a Chapterhouse gig with support by Thousand Yard Stare and Spitfire, on the evening of 11 July ’91, was provided by off-duty members of the Parachute Regiment. They decided that an indie audience were not going to give them any trouble and settled in the reception area for a chinwag and a quiet night. As a result, they failed to prevent a very enthusiastic, but good natured, stage invasion during one of the support bands sets. The red-faced Paras leant not to underestimate a bunch of indie youth, received a bollocking from the venue’s duty manager, and paid a bit more attention for the rest of the show. Later that year, Who Moved the Ground? were supported by Slug and another band on 6 November ’91. 18 months later, on 16 May ’93, Midge Ure’s band Electronica graced the main stage as did Steve Hackett, supported by Dave Gardner, on 2 June ’93. The final for Battle for the Limelight was hosted at Princes Hall on 18 May ’94 and featured Who Moved the Ground?, Strange World, Parmaviolet, Blind, Punching Judy, Redefining Beautiful, and eventual winners Headnoise. On 3 July ’95, J.C. Regulator played on the venue’s steps…
Other musicians to have appeared at Princes Hall include Gene Pitney, Ivor Emmanuel, Billy Fury, Marty Wilde, Heinz, New World, Bobby Crush, The Fall, Charles Hawtrey, Kenny Ball, Syd Lawrence, Geno Washington, Jools Holland, Jane McDonald, Joe Brown, Val Doonican, Barbara Dickson, Des O’Connor, Alvin Stardust, The Hollies (fronted by Carl Wayne of The Move), Joan Armatrading and Katherine Jenkins.
The venue is still open today, with a range of shows, events and their annual pantomime.
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