Coventry Dance Halls, Studios and Schools

In the 60’s there used to be a dance hall in the Lanchester Poly. I saw lots of groups there, often before they were famous. Did they pull that down? Surely if they are building all this student accommodation they could do something on that lines. We did not realise how lucky we we were then, Coventry Theatre, Belgrade, Hotel Leofric, all in the town centre and a lot of pubs had discos just a short bus ride away. Yes they should have some sort of entertainment centre that could provide live entertainment.

The Rolling Stones have announced they are to play at the Ricoh this summer. Tickets expected to be between £60 and £250. I wouldn't be surprised if they were still playing in another 47 years.

The venue where the live music and disco took place was in Priory Street, towards the Pool Meadow end. It was actually the Poly's big sports hall and, as I recall, the stage was a temporary affair constructed as required when a live band was on. I remember attending a music gig there at the weekend and playing basketball on the same floor a few days later. It was redeveloped later, although I can't remember exactly when, and now seems to be Priory Hall. The Polytechnic's sports activities were moved to Coventry Sports Centre, certainly by the early 80s but probably earlier.

The accommodation towers in Priory Street have been unused for a few years as they are unsafe and due for demolition. I presume this will include the hall used as a music venue. It seems that repair is not financially viable. Crumbling student accommodation blocks to be demolished.

The dances took place in the building that housed the Student's Union Bar (just below the current fountains area). The College allowed the various societies to organise the entire night, including booking the music, arranging security, and even presenting the bands. This was a big fund raising source for the Football society that I was in. One night's profit funded new kit for five teams. In the early days there used to be two dance floors - the main one downstairs in the big Exam Hall, and the other on the second floor refectory. In between was the Student's Union Bar on the first floor. They stopped dances being held in the refectory after the floor started to vibrate one night. When booking bands you could choose from a list, and in late 1963 The Beatles were still theoretically bookable on the list at £300. All the other bands were in double figures. Edited by member, 29th Mar 2018 8:54 am

I can remember going to 'The Lanch' quite a few times, it would have been on the lower floor as described above. This would be in the late 1960s and the only name I can recall seeing was Cat Stephens.

That sounds about the same era for me Coventry49, I think I saw Cat Stevens. One name that sticks in my head as well is a group called Cream. I know at that time the groups used to play songs that went on forever!

" . . . a group called Cream" Possibly the greatest rock band of all time (link)

Sorry MR, just shows how much I know about rock bands. We saw so many then, at the Lanch. and the Matrix, but they were usually just another group playing so we could dance!

I used to have lessons at the Balalaika dance studio in the 1970’s. It was run by Janet Ball and her husband David Butler. It was in the lower Precinct on the upper level next to Jackson hairdressers. You went in the door and immediately up a flight of stairs to the ballroom. The general theme inside the ballroom was Spanish with various posters of flamenco dancers and bull fighters. The school moved out of the city centre in that decade but continued to operate at various locations including Tile Hill, Corley, Faseman House and later Christ the King in Coundon. Sadly Janet passed away over 20 years ago and David moved to Kenilworth. He always used to send my parents a Christmas card but there hasn’t been one for a few years now so I'm not sure whether he’s still alive or not.

I used to go to dance and acro classes at the Keith Jones studio near the Swanswell but our teacher was somebody called June Bunnion, who worked for Hazel Hathaway. Hathaway moved her classes to a room above the Milk Bar on Ball Hill. Two buses, on my own, from Beake Avenue on Saturday mornings. I didn't enjoy the classes so sometimes I would just go into the city and walk around and then return home at the expected time having spent the money I was supposed to hand over for the classes. How long do you think I was able to get away with that? When my sister was of age to learn something special she chose piano lessons which she is enjoying the benefits of 60 years later.

I have read through this thread and cannot find any mention of a "couples only" dance venue that was held in an upstairs room next to the Peeping Tom clock. It was the first place that I remember that had a girl DJ?

My sister went to Betty Pattinsons on the Binley Road during the 50's. Any one else?