The Beatles Perform in Aldershot - What REALLY Went Wrong?

The Beatles performed at the Palais Ballroom in Aldershot in December 1961, arranged by Sam Leach, a Liverpool promoter. Sam was a friend of The Beatles and had booked them many times in 1961. Sam Leach dreamed of managing The Beatles, and supposedly had a handshake agreement with John Lennon and Paul McCartney to become their manager. Sam decided to put on a “Battle of the Bands“ in London, with a North versus South, and have record company A&R men from London come to see them. This was their big chance! It all went wrong when the London venue fell through and they hired a hall, the Palais Ballroom, in Aldershot, which is 30 miles from London. But why did only 18 people show up? The local paper didn’t publish the advert, but there was also another major reason - and Alan Hope has the story. Our store is at David Bedford is a Beatles historian and author of several books on The Beatles, including his worldwide most popular