Hammersmith Palais

05-03-2008
maureen

I too was quite saddened when I read of the Hammersmith Palais being knocked down. When I think of the Palais, it reminds me of happy times when I lived in West London in my teens. I used to go there in the mid 60's, in Joe Loss's time and we always had such good nights outs there.Whenever I hear a particular Cilla Blacks song - Youre my World -, I remember the palais as this was playing while I had my last dance with a very special boyfriend who I thought the world of but sadly this was the last time I ever saw him, through unhappy circumstances, but I will always remember that Saturday Night at the Palais. During the time I used to go there, I never once saw any trouble, true there were bouncers on the doors, but it was a nice place to go, or I would not have gone back a second time. They were good days, days of my youth, days I will always remember, and smile at how young I was once.I know nothing stays the same and the Palais, I know isnt the nice place I remember from the 60's, we used to go there for a good night, dancing and meeting boyfriends and just living. It was always a good end to our working week. Ah happy times.I am 60 now, but whenever I think of those Friday and Saturday nights we had there, it makes me remember I was young once and enjoying life, our weekends kept us going through the week and there was never anywhere else we went than the Hammersmith Palais.Such a shame it is being pulled down, but I can understand it in one way, teenagers of today arent like we were and whenever the congregate in such numbers, these days there is always trouble through fights, overdrinking and afraid to say drugs.So I personally will always remember the Hammersmith Palais as it was in the 60's,and as it was designed for, dancing and having fun and I for one would not want to go there now to see it as my memories were from better times and youngsters who just wanted to dance and meet boys or girls.Happy Days, why cant we all stay young?

03-02-2007
bill godman

Hi, it is with a sad heart I hear that the Palais is to be knocked down.I am 73 years of age and was born in the area being a Shepherds Bush Lad.The Palais to me during my teenage years and early 20's (1950/60's) was one of my main entertainments.I used to go there for my dancing lessons on a Sunday morning to be taught by some of the best ballroom dancers of the day.I saw most of the great English bands and singers play There being Ted Heath Dickie Valentine, Letta Rosa. Dennis Lotus, Ken Mackintosh. Lou Preager, Mat Monroe to name but a few.In the Oct 1955 I met my wife Joan there we married May 1957 and will be married 50 years this May.We carried on going to the Palais until the change of music which wasn�t our style (that is no ballroom dancing).I was what we used to call a Palais boy and used to be a member of the Kensington Club which was a bar in the right hand corner of the Palais.To me it was the best place to go on a weekend, Sunday being a member�s only night.If you have a photo graph of the inside of the Palais I would love to have one for memories.Will there be a special night for the closing of the Palais as we would like to go.It holds such great memories for my wife and I we would dance and jive for hours there.Always a Palais Boy Bill Godman

15-03-2006
Stephane Mehmet

"Wicked club but entrance fee was a bit too expensive."