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The Allan FoldAddress:
Warley Road, King Cross, Halifax Rating: Comment: Infamous as
a gig venue in past years. Thanks to Eamonn for resurrecting the gigs over the last few years. New landlady, Kelly,
continues to fly the live music flag - good for her!
Almondbury Working Men's ClubAddress: Almondbury, Huddersfield Rating: Comment: A typical WMC
! Stop the band, it's eyes down for a full house !
Atlas Mill Brewery (The Tip Inn)Address: Atlas Mill Road, Brighouse Rating: Comment: Fantastic little
acoustic venue, Small bar beneath micro-brewery. Very cosy, great atmosphere.
The Barge, BrighouseAddress:
Town Centre, Brighouse (Opposite Sainsbury's car park) Rating: Comment: Since Julian
arrived at the pub, it has really built up a great music reputation - gigs every weekend including Sunday afternoons - with
dancing if Percy and Noreen get hold of you! Seems to generate a good sound despite the 'u' shape interior restricting
the sound from carrying all the way around the pub (might not be a bad thing!). A good crowd and friendly welcome.
Bring your sleeping bag!
Batley Irish Democratic Club
(The Nash)Address: Town Centre, Batley Rating:
Comment: Very friendly
Irish club with a true Yorkshire accent. Easily spotted by the massive electronic shamrock on the outside wall. Good
little club that doubles-up as a meeting point for the Batley early doors drinkers on a weekend night out - well worth a visit.
Berties, EllandAddress:
Bertie's Banqueting Rooms, Town Centre, Elland Rating:
Comment: Great venue
for wedding receptions, dinners, and other formal events. Plenty of dancing space.
The Blue Bell, Taylor Hill, HuddersfieldAddress: Close Hill Lane, Taylor Hill Rating:
Comment: A pub with a
stage - fantastic. Made for gigs venue. Good atmosphere, and a good crowd of people. Well worth a visit.
Bowers Mill, Barkisland, Nr HalifaxAddress: The Venue, Branch Road, Barkisland, Near Halifax Rating:
Comment: Fantastic renovated
mill. Top floor holds a large function area - very plush. Superb place for a big do, even if it is off the beaten
track. Acoustics are a bit of hard work due to the size of the room, high glass roof and stone walls. But still
creates a good atmosphere.
The Bowling GreenAddress:
Winding Road, Halifax (near the bus station) Rating: Comment: Great 'made
for a do' venue. Regular band nights, now on Saturdays. Handy for the late sesh and taxis home.
Address: Bradshaw, Halifax. Rating:
Comment: Fantastic little
club, great atmosphere, nice maidens, good crowd with Harry Gration's wife often in attendance!
Address: A629 Halifax Road, Birchencliffe, Huddersfield Rating: Comment: Wedding venue
- nice room well away from main hotel bar.
Address: Malham Village, about 9 miles north of Skipton Rating: Comment: Hotel/Pub set
in beautiful rural dales village. Great venue catering for locals and holiday/weekenders. Large room with good
atmosphere, friendly staff and clientele. Hope John and Sue can keep the live stuff going.
Clay HouseAddress:
West Vale, near Halifax Rating: Comment: Private function
venue in the middle of the park, with medieval decor and first world war licensing. Swings and roundabouts really.
The Country HouseAddress:
On the Halifax to Leeds Road (A58), Hipperholme, Halifax Rating:
Comment: Great 'locals'
pub with a proper stage for the band. Lots of passing trade, and a great looking netball team. Good atmosphere
if the crowd stays, including the Romans from a local toga party.
Address: Next to the mini-roundabout, Wyke, Bradford Rating: Comment: Fine locals
pub. Carol and Kevin continue the 'live' theme from Trish. A lenient attitude to drinking up. Good
crowd after 10 pm when they've all done the Westgate Wobble, and decided to end their wobbling in the Crown.
Elland Golf ClubAddress: Near Hammerstones, at the top
of Victoria Rd, Elland Rating: Comment: Standard golf
club attire, but very comfortable, cosy atmosphere. Great crowd, nice setting, good bar staff/stewards, top night.
Address: Salterhebble (A629 Huddersfield Rd), Halifax Rating: Comment: Excellent place
for a diddle. These are usually outdoor affairs in the car park at the front - great view of car accidents on the A629 as
they usually slow down to have a sneck. Bob and Linda got the ball rolling and Alan and Pam have got the cosy Sunday afternoons
going again.
The FleeceAddress:
Barkisland, Halifax Rating: Comment: Great venue
for music and a few after hours as it's out in the sticks. Worth the trip.
Address: Mount Pellon , just off Moor End Road, Pellon, Halifax Rating: Comment: Newish venue
from 2007. Good cosy atmosphere with plenty of potential for larger gigs.
The Friendly InnAddress: Burnley Road, Friendly,
Sowerby Bridge. Just beyond the junction of Halifax to Burnley road with Tuel Lane, towards Luddenden Foot. Rating: Comment: This new venue
came on the scene in 2008. Closed down early 2009, but has re-opened February 2009 - Tom & Katie and Steve.
Large conservatory serves as stage area. Good local, spacious, friendly pub with the biggest stage divers you're
likely to get flattened by.
G&T'sAddress: Queensbury, Bradford Rating: Comment: Popular venue
in middle of Queensbury. Regular Sunday night live band events, so get along and support.
The George & Dragon, Dent, CumbriaAddress:
Main Street, Dent, Cumbria Rating: Comment: Great pub in
fantastic dales countryside village. Good mix of locals and holiday makers, and a warm welcome from Anne and John, and
the rest of the staff.
GladstonesAddress:
Horton St, Halifax Rating: Comment: Good St.Patrick's
afternoon gig venue.
The Great House (formerly The Fleece)Address: Elland, Halifax Rating: Comment: Previous
Paddy's Nights turned out to be real 'crackers' - after a slow start. Legend has it that the Headless Horseman's
ghost still resides there. There's a few Legless Irishmen when we're there!
Greetland Community CentreAddress: Greetland, Halifax Rating: Comment: Fantastic facilities
for both the indoor and outdoor sessions, and the gigs here always seem to have a great atmosphere. Previous Spudstock venue.
The Halfway HouseAddress:
Pellon, Halifax Rating: Comment: A good
locals pub that usually gets rocking. Recently lost some of it's smokey charm due to the smoking ban, but still a good
venue on a good night.
Halifax RUFCAddress:
Ovenden Park, Halifax Rating: Comment: Good venue
with the right crowd. Top night had by all for the club January 2005. Book your taxis early though.
Halifax Vandals RUFCAddress:
Newlands, Warley, Halifax Rating: Comment: New clubhouse
doesn't have that quaint feeling of the old place, but a nice clean tidy venue. Well away from nearest residents,
so ought to be generous on the sound levels if required.
Hazlewood
Castle Hotel, TadcasterAddress: Just off the A1/A64
junction Rating: Comment: Superb
mansion/hotel complex in beautiful countryside - wedding venue.
Heath RUFCAddress:
Stainland Road, West Vale, Greetland, Halifax Rating: Comment: Great
open expanse behind the clubhouse for 2007 inaugural Live 'Eath gig. Good set up thanks mainly to the organisational
efforts of one Jim Farrell.
Hey Green Hotel, MarsdenAddress: Marsden, West Yorkshire (just) Rating:
Comment: Not easily
found, but good wedding-do venue. Decent size room. Top (ex) resident DJ - Biggles. Get your hair cut!
Address: The canal, next to the museum, Uppermill, Lancashire Rating: Comment: Unusual setting
- private parties on John's narrowboat. Has to be acoustic set, but creates a great atmosphere. Good for a
lock-in. (Ha ha!)
Address: Fitzwilliam Street, Huddersfield Rating:
Comment: 2006 debut for
BotC. Great atmosphere when full, but lay out a little restrictive. Having said that, it's a good venue with
a good mix of people, and a great attitude to catering musically for the younger people. Acoustic nights also held.
Address: Halifax Road, Huddersfield Rating:
Comment: Nice venue for
private functions, but chip shop style lighting doesn't lend well to the visual effects, especially when the band consists
of a set of ugly gargs like us.
The Irish ClubAddress:
Halifax Rating: Comment: Halifax's
very own. Decent venue - depends on the type of night or afternoon. Fine pint of cheap Guinness though, so you can forgive
it almost anything. This is the only venue where we have actually had the plug pulled (literally) on us for playing
over time. Our faces must have been a picture. Great to see the club full again for our gig early May 2009.
The JunctionAddress:
King Cross, Halifax Rating: Comment: Top pub gig
venue for a rowdy do but the layout of the pub makes it a little difficult to get all involved. Great hosts.
The King's HeadAddress: South
Street, Keighley Rating: Comment: Good music venue,
for Sunday night sessions. Bizarrely, can only cater for maximum of two songsters (something to do with the extortionate
costs of music licenses).
King Cross Cricket clubAddress: Hanson Lane, Halifax Rating: Comment: An occassional
venue for parties and Belt of the Both Barrels gigs .lots of familiar faces and a healthy approach to late serving make for
happy belts.
Address: Hopwood Lane, West End, Halifax Rating: Comment: As near as we
get to Jamaica, no sign of any Red Stripe, and the the only yardies you'll find are round the back where the dustbinies
are kept. Cosy little club with a proper stage!
Lee Mount WMCAddress:
Lee Mount, Halifax Rating: Comment: Clubland venue
especially for two boy duos with lights, or vocalists who always have a bloke's christian name as their surname (e.g.
Billy David, Amanda James, Stephanie Peters etc etc etc). We love venues with a little room for 'Artistes only'
(with top photos of previous entertainers) just in case we need somewhere to change into our stage clothes! Having said
that, we enjoyed the night for the Noah's Ark fund raiser, despite a boat-load of problems with the sound equipment (boat/ark
- get it?). Good friendly club, and great beer prices.
Lock, Stock and BarrellAddress: Boothtown Road, Boothtown, Halifax Rating:
Comment: Large, lively
cavernous pub adjacent and visible from the Halifax Bradford road towards Queensbury. Good venue for live music - loads
of bands most weeks.
Address: Regent Street, Leeds, just off York Road Rating: Comment: Real Irish pub,
home of Leeds branch Celtic Supporters Club. Big name venue with excellent facilities.
Address: Keighley Road (A629), Ogden, Halifax Rating:
Comment: Big, very popular,
open fires, eating pub - live music Friday nights.
Address: Skircoat Green, Halifax Rating:
Comment: Fabulous acoustic
venue. Live music every Thursday evening. Free admission but please put a penny (a fiver would be great!) in the
old man's hat!
NALGO ClubAddress:
Beneath the council offices, Halifax Rating: Comment: Easy going gig,
with a good atmosphere. Appreciative crowd, good bar prices, and a considerate attitude to drinking up time, despite
the bar staff living in Rochdale - thanks.
The NavigationAddress:
Next to the canal, Sowerby Bridge Rating: Comment: Very cosy locals
pub. 2003 venue for Rushbearing warm-up in a marquee in the car-park - very cosy!
The New FurnaceAddress:
Halifax Road, Shelf (Near Tescos at Buttershaw) Rating: Comment: Pub in Club
surroundings - proper stage with trimmings. Locals place with a welcome for the traveller. Good music venue.
Belt of the Celts 100th venue in December 2000.
The New Variety Club, KeighleyAddress: Previously know as the Gas Club Rating:
Comment: Nice little
isolated venue with lights. Needs a crowd to get the atmosphere, and a bit Phoenix Nights. Good do for Eddie's fundraiser.
Ogden (Halifax)Golf ClubAddress: Ogden, Halifax off A629 towards Keighley Rating:
Comment: Secluded venue
for good party or function. A good crowd guarantees a good night. Good friendly staff.
The Olde Shears InnAddress:
Dean Clough, Halifax (Underneath the A629 Keighley Rd flyover) Rating:
Comment: Good little
music venue. Good real ales to spill to the live music - usually Friday nights.
Ossett Albion FCAddress:
Ossett Rating: Comment: The rating above
is along the lines of how many people turned up. Either it was badly publicised or everyone in Ossett has heard of us
before.
Ovenden WayAddress:
Ovenden Way, Ovenden, Halifax. Rating: Comment: Large estate
pub - community-centred, very friendly establishment. Had a great gig here on St Pats 2009.
The Peels ArmsAddress:
143 Den Lane, Springhead, Oldham Rating: Comment: Well hidden
great locals pub (home of some famous locals - PS of MU) - the landlord and lady (Les and Pauline) are about as local to Oldham
as Rodney Bewes is to Newcastle. The Fog on the Tame is all mine all mine. Friendly welcome, good atmosphere,
even though Shane MacGowan was previously unheard of.
The Pennine Manor HotelAddress: Scapegoat Hill, Huddersfield Rating:
Comment: Neat little
hotel with fantastic views. Bit of an odd low-roofed function room keeps the volume down. No swearing please!
Platinum Club (previously La Mania)Address: Halifax Rating: Comment: Night club venue
- good setting but not really our style - (old gits!)
Address: Junction of Church Street and New Road, Halifax.
Near the railway station. Rating: Comment: Great real ale
pub and friendly music venue.
Address: Sowerby Bridge, near Halifax. Get to Sowerby Bridge
and ask for directions! Rating: Comment: Well out of
the way pub just off the centre of Sowerby Bridge. Live music in plentiful supply with a great close atmosphere and
a real 'pub' feeling about it. Very small but very cosy. Big hat required!
The QuaysAddress:
Huddersfield Rd, Salterhebble, Halifax Rating:
Comment: Had some tremendous
evenings here in the past. Always thought it was never quite the same once it became a 'food' pub. Good
venue if the crowd's up for it.
The Revival Bar Address:
Broad St, Halifax Rating: Comment: Played an Irish
Night with Rakish Paddy and Irish dancers Celtic Beat. Sounded OK from where we were but quite a lot of complaints were
given to Rakish soundman Malcolm, accusing him of sabotaging our set. The main culprit was a man called Kenneth - you
know who you are!
Address: Ovenden, Halifax Rating:
Comment: Wasn't sure
what to expect here. What a great venue and a very friendly and appreciative audience. A bit of a contradiction
in terms allowing us to 'play' in a performing arts theatre.
Rishworthians Rugby ClubAddress: Copley, Halifax Rating: Comment: Very hospitable
venue and appreciative audience - a long, long night from what I remember.
Rochdale Town HallAddress:
erm....Rochdale! Rating: Comment: Gothic cathedral
- gargoylish accoustics but a good wedding venue.
Rose & Crown, Greetland, HalifaxAddress: Rochdale Road, Greetland Rating: Comment: Not too spacious
bar area but good atmosphere. Good pub for keeping the live music going.
Address: Elland, Halifax Rating:
Comment: Always a storming
night. The very best of the venues, in my opinion. Fine pint of Guinness, a liberal attitude towards drinking up time
(and at this level of understatement I can also say that Vlad the Impaler was quite a naughty man) and the best landlord in
the North of England - well, Dave was last reported to be in this region, but who knows as he has done a bunk. Would
be great is this took off again, especially as we had some superb Christmas gigs in the past. Not
wanting to delete the above references attributed to The Royal (of which many are still relevant), it has to be said that
we had another stormer of a night on our Feb 2001 visit. Landlord doubles up as roadie (cheers Derek), and a great crowd
seemed to enjoy the night despite the band being relocated to the concert room!
Saddleworth Hotel, Delph, near OldhamAddress: A62, Huddersfield Road, Delph Rating:
Comment: Very cosy and
plush hotel in middle of nowhere. Beautiful surroundings, but hard work from a gig point of view.
The Shears Inn, Paris Gates, HalifaxAddress: Paris Gates, close to The Shay football ground. Rating:
Comment: Great real ale
and food pub tucked away in the valley bottom amongst the mills. We played an outdoor gig there in June 2009 - appropriately
on the back of a potato wagon!
Shoulder of Mutton, Thwaites, KeighleyAddress: Thwaites village, Near Keighley Rating:
Comment: Good locals
pub, with clientele who know how to enjoy themselves.
Siddal Rugby League Club - OldAddress: By the bus terminus, Siddal, Halifax Rating:
Comment: Early years
venue for BotC, now replaced by the new clubhouse -see below. Lots of old friends there, and a long association between the
band and the club. Top Rugby League team.
Siddal Rugby League Club - NewAddress: Chevinedge, Exley/Siddal, Halifax - right next to the pitch. Rating: Comment: New clubhouse
opened April 2008 - splendid structure. Paint was still drying as we played! Fantastic facilities, large bar and
function room. May take a bit of getting used to if you've grown up around those parts, or being associated with
the club for a long period, but one thing that hasn't changed from the old place - still a great set of people.
Address: Siddal, Halifax Rating:
Comment: Nice little
venue, but be prepared to step back into the 1970's for the decor but not the bar prices. Top venue for Rock Nights,
and Rock & Roll nights. (Oh, and Belt of the Celts have played there). Warm friendly welcome so don't
be put off by the tinsel stage backdrop. Venue for 2004 SPUDAID. Spenborough Ex-servicemen's ClubAddress: On the road between Chain Bar and Cleckheaton. Rating:
Comment: Good friendly
club, with appreciative crowd. Very enjoyable evening; we always like to know who'll be 'in the chair tonight'.
Slaithwaite Cricket ClubAddress: T'other side of 'uddersfield, on't way to Oldham Rating: Comment: Picturesque
(in many ways) setting for booze fuelled fantastic night - Marquee style. Great to see Biggles the DJ - still with his
hair!
Skipton RUFCAddress:
er, Skipton, North Yorkshire. (You can see it from the by-pass, but try finding your way there!) Rating: Comment: Lovely
clubhouse in scenic surroundings (if you look beyond the industrial units and by-pass). Very friendly crowd. Good
little venue.
Address: Huddersfield Road, Salterhebble, Halifax Near
the hospital Rating: Comment: Picking up the
live gig pace since 2007, a good friendly atmosphere, handy for town and A&E.
Address: Next to the roundabout where the Brighouse and Denholmegate
Road crosses the Bradford to Halifax road, near Shelf Rating: Comment: Not as glitzy
as you might imagine, and more comfortable than the name suggests! (Not sure about the variety bit). Small friendly
club with pub atmosphere, good beer prices, and generally a good egg of a place.
The Tipp Inn (Atlas Mill Brewery)Address:
Atlas Mill Road, Brighouse Rating: Comment: Fantastic little
acoustic venue, Small bar beneath micro-brewery. Very cosy, great atmosphere.
Triangle InnAddress:
Triangle, Sowerby Bridge, Near Halifax (A58) Rating: Comment: Good close atmosphere
in nice tidy pub.
The West EndAddress:
Gomersal, Cleckheaton Rating: Comment: New to us from
2007. Large pub off the beaten track with space in the back for large 'rock' bands. We played in the bar,
and had a fantastic night.
Waterloo Bowling ClubAddress: On the Wakefield/Sheffield road out of Huddersfield, just before Waterloo traffic
lights. Rating: Comment: Friendly little
club willing to give 'something different' a try. Eyes-down between sets. A bizarre toilet arrangement
where there's a gent's and ladies trap at either side of the stage for the audience to use mid-turn!
Ziggy's Spice HouseAddress: Half way between Irish Club and Plummet Line, Halifax Rating:
Comment: Used to be the
Spice Gardens curry house - the regular venue for the end of a Friday night. Got to be one of the most unusual venues.
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