Alternative names The Westy Address 48 Queens Road Seating type raked Opened 1975 Architectural style Victorian architecture | Type Arts Centre Country United Kingdom Seating capacity 106 Town or city Aldershot | |
Similar Princes Hall, Farnham Maltings, Rondo Theatre, Darwen Library Theatre, The Plough Arts Centre - T | ||
The West End Centre is an entertainment venue and arts centre located on Queens Road in Aldershot. The centre features such events as classes, workshops and art exhibitions and promotes everything from heavy metal, blues, folk and punk music and stand up comedy to small-scale and intimate theatre.
Background
Opening in 1975 in the former West End Junior School once attended by comedian Arthur English, the West End Centre (or the 'Westy') is described as "the creative hub of Aldershot and the surrounding areas". It was originally run by volunteers and faced closure in its early years until the Poet Laureate John Betjeman had the building listed. The Graeae Theatre Company was based at the Centre from 1981 to 1982.
When managed by Hampshire County Council the centre faced closure again in 2007 until public protests forced the decision to be reversed. Every year since 2006 the West End Centre has held the Summer Westival which creates an indoor music festival complete with real grass throughout the venue.
Performers who have appeared at the centre include Andy Parsons, Matt Forde, Sam Simmons, Roger McGough, Seann Walsh, Stewart Lee, Adrian Henri, Shappi Khorsandi, Miriam Margolyes, Omid Djalili, Dara Ó Briain, Jimmy Carr, Dave Gorman, Tony Hawks Daniel Kitson, Simon Munnery, Nish Kumar, Phill Jupitus, Justin Moorhouse and Al Murray.
A popular music venue, bands who have appeared at the WEC include Blur, Happy Mondays, Stone Roses, Spiritualized, A, Primal Scream, Manic Street Preachers, Peter Green, Chas & Dave, Nine Below Zero, Funeral for a Friend, PJ Harvey and We Are the Ocean. The Centre has also provided support for such local artists as Hundred Reasons, Sonny Black and Zero Cipher.
Today the Centre is managed by Hampshire Cultural Trust as an arts centre and venue for professional touring shows, the theatre space having a capacity of 106 with raked seating. Since 2001 the Arts Centre Director has been Barney Jeavons, the former manager of the British rock band Reuben and the son of the noted actor Colin Jeavons.