The penultimate date of The Beatles’ January 1963 tour of Scotland took place at the Museum Hall in Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire.
The hall was built by the trustees of John Macfarlane in 1887, originally as the Macfarlane Museum and Art Gallery. It later became a community hall and concert venue, and was donated to the Bridge of Allan town council in 1950.
The hall fell into disrepair in the years following The Beatles’ performance, and it was closed to the public in 1978 due to structural flaws.
Last updated: 25 January 2024
Also on this day...
- 1990: Paul McCartney live: National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham
- 1984: US single release: Nobody Told Me by John Lennon
- 1970: Glyn Johns compiles the second Get Back album
- 1970: John Lennon and Yoko Ono give a press conference in Aalborg, Denmark
- 1967: Recording: Penny Lane, Carnival Of Light
- 1966: Recording: overdubs for The Beatles At Shea Stadium
- 1965: Live: Another Beatles Christmas Show
- 1964: Radio: The Public Ear
- 1962: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (lunchtime)
- 1961: The Beatles live: Litherland Town Hall, Liverpool
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
yes i was there on that night i thought they were good ,they had brown suits on all sewed down the legs with black thread not a pretty sight ha ha .
Hi Margaret, great bit of loacl history! Do you have any more information from the night? Cheers, Davy.
I was there as a nearly-15-year old with Joe Bell from the Raploch. We really liked the group but really had no idea of what they would become! I resent the image that persists in stories from that night that the place was ‘full of big drunken farmers!’ as I know there were many other young people from the Raploch, Bannockburn, Cowie etc. there that night.
What about the claim that they were booed off the stage
I was a member of the other band (Clint and the Tornados) that played that night and I do not recall The Beatles being booed off the stage. We thought they were quite good and reminded us a little of the Everly Brothers. Also do not recall drunken farmers either.
You are correct about people from all around I was from St.Ninians pals as well and Stirling ,not all drunk farmer’s. Not bad night, Shane Felton was top of the bill if I remember?not the Beatles.
Hi Bill, Thanks for the ‘back up’ about the “Drunken Farmers and fights” stories – what a load of rubbish. There was no bother there that night. Can you give us more insight into your night seeing The Beatles in 1963 please? Cheers, Davy.
You are right there were people from the places you mentioned ,I my self was from St.Ninians. I think Shane Fenton was on the bill .
Ive heard many rumours of fights breaking out and the gig being cancelled, can anyone confirm this?
Not true. I was in the other band that played that night and do not recall any fights or cancellation of the gig.
Hi Ron Reid, I was at the gig in Bridge of Allan. The ‘advertised’ support band was Roy Purdon & The Telstars! Can you confirm that you played with CLINT & THE TORNADOES that night? If so, can you give me full details of the band, any photographs of the band and your further thoughts on the night please? I’m participating in a future major project which your information could inform. Cheers, Davy.
Hi I was also at the Museum Hall that very night with my friends . I lived in Bridge of Allan and I do not remember any drunken farmers or cancellations. I remember being surprised to see Paul playing a guitar with his left hand and I think they had the Beatle hair cuts – am I right? I often tell people about that night and I remember all the girls standing on one side and hoping the boys who were all standing down the other side would come over and ask us to dance. My friend Gillian bought the first LP and ther was no screaming whish was early days so you could hear them properly . I remember meeting some older girls after guides in the Allan Water Cafe and they told us they had talked to them at the end of the night. Yes it was a cold night and as we lived up the hill we probably slipped and slid all the down to the Museum Hall in our high heels!