The Drumbeat (Bolton)

The Drumbeat Club was at 106-108 Higher Bridge Street on the corner of China Lane, Bolton, Lancashire and opened in I think October 1963.

The venue started out life as The Carlton Ballroom in 1953, but was later known as Drumbeat, The Blue Lagoon, The Neptune Club till 1973 and The Phoenix Club. 

It was part of The Borough Arms Pub which had opened in 1838, and was next to The Wryton Wrestling Stadium which had opened in 1958. This stadium had been The Palladium Picture House that had been built in 1921 and opened on Sunday, December 25, 1921 with 'Old Nest.' It was taken over by ABC in 1930 and The Palladium Picture House closed in 1958 . It then became The Wryton Wrestling Stadium and by 1978, it had been converted into the first skateboard centre in the UK. The building was demolished in August 1982.

It was run by Eddie Grant (b. Edward Grant), who always wore a trilby. He also had wrestlers popping in from the Wryton next door.

It was advertised in The Lancashire Evening News of Sunday, November 2, 1963 as
Bolton's Newest Beat-The Drum Beat Now Open With The Fabulous Johnny D. and His D-Tones For Twisting And Jiving Friday and Saturday 7.30 p.m. Admission 3.-. Tuesday 1/6 (Records), Wed. 2/- 7.30 (Records) Wednesday & Saturday afternoon 2.30 Admission 1/- (Records) Higher Bridge-St., Bolton (Next to Wryton Stadium).

Johnny D, and his D. Tones played here as did Bolton group The Viceroys and The Wheels from Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland (formed in 1964).

Known gigs

• Friday, November 1, 1963: Johnny D, and his D. Tones
• Saturday, November 2, 1963: Johnny D, and his D. Tones 
• Friday, November 6, 1964: Little Boy Blues
• Sunday, December 8, 1964: The Wheels
  Advertised in The Lancashire Evening News as
  Drumbeat Higher Bridge St. Special Attraction Sunday The Wheels From Belfast acclaimed the Irish Rolling Stones. Members 3/-, Guests 4/-
• Saturday, January 9, 1965: The Smokestacks
  Advertised in The Lancashire Evening News as 
  Drumbeat Tonight The Smokestacks. Admission . . . 3/-.
• Sunday, January 10, 1965: Doctor Pill and his Purple Hearts
  Advertised in The Lancashire Evening News as 
  Drumbeat Sunday-Doctor Pill And His Purple Hearts Members 3/-. Guests 4/-.
• Tuesday, January 12, 1965: The Wheels
  Advertised in The Lancashire Evening News as 
  Drumbeat Don't forget Tuesday. Full professional group with a difference The Wheels from Belfast with Cabaret Act. Members 3/-. Guests 4/-.
• Friday, January 22, 1965: The Viceroys
  Advertised in The Evening News as
  Drumbeat Higher Bridge St. The Fabulous Viceroys Members 2/6 Guests 3/-.
• Tuesday, January 26, 1965: The Wheels
  Advertised in The Evening News as
  Drumbeat Higher Bridge St. Don't Miss Tuesday's All Professional Group- The Wheels Irish TV & Radio Recording Artists Admission 3/-.

Incudes info sourced from: https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/4581473.were-you-a-teenager-at-the-drumbeat-club-in-the-60s/