LONG before Fort Regent hosted the Covid vaccination centre, it was host to world-famous musical artists including Meat Loaf, The Hollies, Thin Lizzy and Adam and the Ants.
Islanders of more recent generations have also enjoyed events held in the white-domed venue, with artists such as James Blunt performing in 2018, raves featuring Becky Hill and Chase and Status not long after that, and comedians such as Jimmy Carr, Michael McIntyre and Sarah Millican gracing the 16,000-sq ft and 2,000-seat space.
In its heyday as a tourist hotspot, the Island even saw two concerts from the Beatles at Springfield Stadium in August 1963.
It’s hard to imagine the Liverpudlian quartet relaxing by the pool of their St Saviour hotel.
Now that the government are in the process of winding down the vaccination centre, and plans for the Fort have been shelved, the only sounds heard in the space where Islanders lost their hearing at Thin Lizzy concerts are the echoes from stray footballs.
The JEP invited Islanders to take a trip down memory lane by asking: What was your favourite concert at Fort Regent?
And should the venue, which events organisers have called the ‘crown jewel’ of Jersey, make a return as a concert venue?
The overwhelming answer? Yes.
What was your favourite concert at Fort Regent?
David Perchard: ‘Status Quo had the place in uproar! The Hollies were superb.’
Steve Carver: ‘Thin Lizzy! It was the eve of Charles and Diana’s wedding, so we had the next day off to recover from our hangovers. The Australian Pink Floyd Show were great too.’
Katrina Roby: ‘Jools Holland and Ruby Turner. Absolutely superb. A venue capable of hosting these events is definitely needed in Jersey.’
Jon Renouf: ‘The Jam and Adam and the Ants – with a fetching white stripe!’
Sue Goodridge: ‘Thin Lizzy… I was seven months pregnant, so I know that was 42 years ago, possibly around now!’
Michelle Le Fevre: ‘Paul Young back in the 80s.’
Iris Reynolds: ‘Jools Holland with Marc Almond. Marc’s singing stole the show.’
Cheryl Bresset: ‘My mum worked at the Fort, so I went to everything. I saw Meat Loaf, he was fab. Thin Lizzy and Adam and the Ants stand out for me. Loved Saxon too. I was in the audience for many Seaside Special shows and even had front-row seats for Neil Sedaka. I remember thinking how small Suzi Quatro was, but she had a huge voice. Paul Young was so good-looking, people were fainting.’
Neil Roberts: ‘I worked there when A-Ha were performing and they needed a hiding place away from their fans so they hid in the ghost train in the old east ditch. When Tom Jones was doing a show for the BBC, he couldn’t be found to do his sound check and was found apparently playing darts in the Old Bagot Pub. So many more stories of my happy days at the Fort. The Hollies was definitely one of the best live concerts I caught there and their song had just returned to number one thanks to a TV advert.’
Joanna Styran: ‘The Jam, Adam and the Ants, Paul Young, Ocean Colour Scene, UB40. It was never a music venue, just a sports hall with a stage. Acoustics weren’t great but at least it was something – now we have nothing! We need a purpose-built venue with different-size spaces that can host visiting bands, comedians etc and also local musicians and performers. Ideally, with moveable seating. Include some rehearsal/practice space and some accommodation for visiting artists and, just maybe, we can put Jersey back on the UK entertainment circuit.’
Aims Howard: ‘Ian Brown is THE best gig I’ve ever seen at the Fort!!!’
lOthers said Bjorn Again, Big Country, Edwin Starr, David Essex, Saxon, Quick Shimmy, Showaddywaddy and Marillion.
Should we have concerts at Fort Regent again?
Phil Wells: ‘Isn’t it sad that we now don’t have a 2,000-seat concert venue and by the looks of it never will?’
Rita Hughes: ‘I worked at the Fort for a time when they had acts on… great nights, what a complete waste of time closing it down, the auditorium was always full no matter who was performing.’
Paul J Bentley: ‘We desperately need an acoustically treated auditorium big enough for a symphony orchestra.’
Dan Parkes: ‘YESSSS please turn this into a concert venue. I’ve been saying this for years.’
Allie Logan: ‘A big fat yes, we rarely get anything decent over here anymore other than for Weekender. We need good music, comedians – Sarah Millican was fab a few years ago – and some of the well know historians/writers that tour the UK with book launches, talks etc.’
Sally Roberts: ‘It’s ludicrous that in this day and age Jersey has no venue for concerts. What are young people to do? And a lot of older people too. Everyone needs to let off steam and enjoy a good concert every now and then. It’s healthy and it’s fun.’
Nicki Jane: ‘So many good acts… I would hate to be a teenager in Jersey now. It’s very sad.’
