Mersey Beat - Merseyside Civil Service Club

'Back Castle Street'

On the 7th of February 1961 'The Beatles' made their first performance at the Merseyside Civil Service Club, a social and leisure club on Lower Castle Street, Liverpool. It was a city centre basement in this narrow street off Water Street and parallel to Castle Street, also known locally as 'Back Castle Street'. The venue was later to become The Castle Court Club/Pub. In this below ground venue there was a bar room, a card school room, snooker room, and the main function room which had tables and chairs surrounding a dance area, and small dais in one corner for 'the groups'.

It was normally open only to members, but guests could be admitted with permission for a charge of three shillings. The exclusivity of the club meant that these events did not have large attendances but the location meant that the group could appear both at The Cavern and here without too much trouble. These smaller venues were obviously used before 'Beatlemania' broke out and when the lads were still walking to the Pier Head to catch a bus home and/or hopefully meet a few girls who'd seen them playing.

The Beatles in their early Hamburg black leather gear

The Beatles played at the Merseyside Civil Service Club through one of Pete Best's contacts, possibly Sam Leach or Dick Mathews, they secured their first booking booking here on Tuesday 7 February 1961 and were paid £5 for their first gig. This was in the days when they wore their early Hamburg black leather gear and the place was a venue for many groups at the time such as The Searchers, Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Big 3, Derry and The Seniors, Rory Storm and The Hurricanes and others. They appeared here on four other occasions after their first appearance on consecutive Tuesday nights on the 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th of November 1961. While exclusive, these events seem to have been poorly attended.

see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2017/08/mersey-beat-grosvenor-ballroom-wallasey.html