White Riot Tour with the Jam, Buzzcocks, Slits and Subway Sect.

updated October 2020 added poster
updated May 2021 added larger advert

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West Runton Pavilion

West Runton Pavilion is located in Norfolk, England[1]. It is still standing today and continues to host various events[1].

Punk in the East website and the Bored Teenagers website [4] mention the venue. Additionally, Adrian Boot's blog features a collection of important photo sessions with The Clash, including some live and backstage images.

Punk in the East website credits Chris Grief for the images of The Clash, The Jam, Buzzcocks, and Subway Sect performing at West Runton Pavilion on May 27, 1977.

See also whiterabbitskgs, Historic England and Reunion remembers pavilion's rock glory - archived PDF

Chance to relive memories from former West Runton Pavilion nightspot | Eastern Daily Press

Online or Archive PDF

THE WEST RUNTON PAVILION

Online

The top dictionary descriptions of a pavilion offer its uses as a summer-house; park shelter, or a building used for changing or refreshments at a sports ground. One of the better-known buildings with this title however is the Royal Pavilion Brighton, built as the seaside pleasure palace for King George IV, who reigned from 1820 to 1830 A.D.

But for several years, a popular North Norfolk music venue also shared the Pavilion title while operating in a building behind the Village Inn pub in West Runton.

Anyone remembering the Three Horse Shoes at Scottow, may also recall that behind it, was a separate building known as ëThe Barní, which operated in a similar manner.

Dances were hosted in West Runton during World War ll and in the early days, music was played by various military bands. It was also the first such venue in the country known to run a free coach service to and from the dances, starting in 1947 with just a single coach from Wells. The service was gradually extended to other villages and towns including Fakenham, Holt and North Walsham.

Originally a sports hall, it had become known as the North Norfolk Pavilion, by 1954. Soon after that, its popularity continued to grow, coinciding with the explosion of Punk Rock and many new bands played there including The Sex Pistols as traditional entertainment gradually gave way to rock and roll. The venue hosted some of the biggest names in rock and punk and often considered difficult to reach by visiting music journalists, groups knew they could at least warm-up in a safe environment.

For several years it was a starting point for many British tours by major artists, including The Damned; The Clash; The Commodores; Hot Chocolate; The Jam; Bad Manners; Motorhead; The Pretenders; Saxon and Iron Maiden. During the 1960's, 70's and early 80's, numerous pop groups took over the entertainment programme. Many bands preferred the venue for practicing, due to the exceptionally food acoustics.

Although considered by some as perhaps ëoff the beaten trackí, it proved an ideal location for groups trying out new material before making their UK tours. On August 19th 1976 the Sex Pistols performed here for about 30 people. Other bands included at different times, the Stranglers, the Jam, the Clash and the Four Tops.

The last gig took place in 1983 and only three years later in 1986, the building was demolished, to be replaced by flats named

Slade Court which was named after the ëSladeí band who had played there twice.

Today, the only reminder of the West Runton Pavillion, is a Blue Plaque on the wall of the nearby Village Inn pub, to commemorate its former existence.

In the image below, the Pavillion was the ëbarn-likeí structure on the left of the image. The other building next door (centre), is the Village Inn pub.

Plaque on local pub for 60s hippies

West Runton Pavilion from the air in 1965
(to the middle right of photo, 1961)

The Jam at West Runton, date uknown

Militant Entertainment Tour, West Runton Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk, 1979. © Photograph by Syd Shelton

Blue plaque for the only band that matters

Legendary night

Jon Fry white riot tour.. legendary night.. clash, buzzcocks, subway sect, slits.. the jam dropped out !! .. thought they were too big to be a support act.. at least that was what was reported at the time.. true or false ?.. maybe we'll never know !.. i've met paul weller tho'.. i believe it to be true !!

Hot sweaty and scary for us young innocent kids

Jonny Lubbuck - Fond Fond memories of dear Ol' Runton, first gig there with my best buddy Clash Dave,we reckon he was around 11 at the time.

Hot sweaty and scary for us young innocent(?) kids from Norwich,Splodgenessabounds with Anna running around collecting empty Breaker cans to hurl at them and the wonderfully awful Aunty Pus supporting,Cookie the Norfolk Giant haystacks ching Kev davies across the back of the stage with an already bloodstained shirt,Kev Cullabine on more than one occassion declaring himself the one and ONLY President of the Norwich Punx,travelling on the train with Gary Harrison hiding under a pile of bags in the door only to be revealed to the inspector by Jonty !

Me,Gary Harrison and younger Bro Mick walking home,yes walking,from Runton... more memories to follow.....

Bruce McElroy

I was there that night! What an introduction to punk rock. Slits replaced The Jam after they pulled out of the White Riot Tour.

Sadly I can't remember too much about the Clash but the Slits being raw, chaotic and utterly mesmerising, as a wide eyed 16 year old at his first punk gig.

I know I was down the front and singing along with everything in my freshly stencilled 'Yarmouth's Burning' home made splattered shirt. I seem to recall thinking later that some or all of Hate and War, Deny and 48 hours sounded better live than on the album. I do remember thinking that some of the ‘weaker' songs on the Clash debut sounded much better live!

I can remember being mesmerised by the chaos and the noise that were the Slits, and simultaneously fell in love with all 4 of them. Subway Sect also present along with the Buzzcocks.

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