Saturday 04 May 2024
Select a region
News

From 50p tickets to cheap pints... How have prices changed since Beatlemania in Jersey?

From 50p tickets to cheap pints... How have prices changed since Beatlemania in Jersey?

Thursday 10 August 2023

From 50p tickets to cheap pints... How have prices changed since Beatlemania in Jersey?

Thursday 10 August 2023


Today, not 'Yesterday', marks 60 years since the Beatles finished their sell-out tour of the Channel Islands with a concert at Springfield ballroom... How much has island life changed since then?

The Fab Four, who were then on the precipice of superstardom, had not long returned from their first tour of the United States when they landed at Jersey Airport on 6 August 1963.

After concerts in Jersey on 6 and 7 August, they took a short trip to play in Guernsey's Candie Gardens, before returning for two more on 9 and 10 August.

beatles_in_jersey_1963.jpg

Pictured: The Fab Four playing around on their day off at the poolside in Jersey.

While Kensington Place is now in the news for another reason – as a government-owned site soon to house new hospital facilities – it was then the site of the Revere Hotel, where the Liverpudlian quartet stayed.

Film footage emerged in 2004 of the group relaxing with friends and fans at the poolside, taken by the band themselves.

springfield_pic_beatles_2.jpg

Pictured: the group performed at Springfield ballroom, which is now Springfield Stadium.

The band received £1,000 for the four Jersey concerts, which were organised by local promoter Les de la Mare earlier in March.

The cost of island life in 1963

1963adverts.jpg

Tickets for the Beatles' show cost between 17/6d (87p, worth around £22 today) and 10 shillings (50p – now worth £12)... which many might consider a bargain today.

With price rises repeatedly making headlines, it led Express to look into how the costs of other island pleasures have changed over the years...

A series of adverts from the Jersey Evening Post in 1963, kindly compiled by local historian Howard Baker and shared with Express, shed light on just two much the cost of living locally has changed.

  • Pint of beer - £1.70 (2s 1 d)

  • Gallon of petrol - £3.80 (4s 9d)

  • Pint of milk - 56p (8.5d)

  • House prices - £13,000 (St. Saviour detached house), £20,000 (Samares with "sea views"), £55,000 for an "attractive country estate" in St. Martin)

  • Coats and suits at De Gruchy - £3-£7

  • Holiday to France with CI Airways  - £5.8.0 return to Quimper (twice weekly), £12.10.0 return to Paris (frequent services)

  • Fiat 500 Sun Roof Saloon from Bel Royal Motors - £185

The 'Beantles'

If Islanders want to 'Get Back' and 'Let It Be' 1963 again, there's 'Something' to shout about: Jersey-based tribute band ‘The Beantles’ will at this weekend’s Battle of Flowers be remembering when John, Paul, George and Ringo brought ‘Beatlemania’ to Jersey.

This weekend, four local musicians – Oliver Rybarczuk, Dan MacFarlane, Jordan Rondel and Tom Rolls – will come together to perform as 'The Beantles'.

Mr Rybarczuk, the 'John Lennon' of the group, said: "We all grew up listening to the Beatles' music. My parents listened to the Beatles when they were adolescents too, so it's always been in the family."

"Being a musician, the Beatles' songwriting, and their impact on music, is very important. They were a historically pivotal band.

"For our performance, because it's the 60th anniversary, we'll incorporate a lot of material they had from that era, like She Loves You, Love Me Do. But we'll also play some later material too."

He added that he believed it would be "beneficial" for Jersey to once against have venues – such as Springfield and Fort Regent – to host famous acts.

Battle of Flowers chair Russell Labey said: "They may be impersonating the Fab Four but their sound is incredibly authentic and we wanted to commemorate a real coup for Jersey to attract the Beatles to Springfield Stadium just as they hit superstardom."

The tribute band will perform at the Battle of Flowers on Friday from 5pm to 7pm and 8.15pm to 9pm, and from 9pm to 10.30pm on Saturday.

Earlier this week, a concert in Guernsey recreated the 25 minute set played at Candie Gardens by John, Paul, George and Ringo 60 years ago to the day song-for-song. There is also an exhibition celebrating their music.

Sign up to newsletter

 

Comments

Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.

You have landed on the Bailiwick Express website, however it appears you are based in . Would you like to stay on the site, or visit the site?