10th November 1961 
Operation Big Beat - Tower Ballroom, New Brighton

Poster advertising the Beatles performance at the Tower Ballroom, New Brighton

Ticket for Operation Big Beat at the Tower Ballroom

This was the first time that the Beatles played at the Tower Ballroom, Promenade, New Brighton Wallasey, Merseyside L45 on Friday evening, 10th November 1961..
The Tower that stood above this Ballroom before the war was the second largest iron tower in Europe. During the War the tower was dismantled, in anticipation that the iron would be required in the war effort. Despite the fact that the iron was never used, the tower was never rebuilt, but the Ballroom remained and was capable of holding as many as 5000 people.

The promoter, Sam Leach, managed to persude 3000 people to come and watch his 'Operation Big Beat' which was basically a selection of five Liverpool bands pulled together to play at the one venue between the hours of 7.30pm and 1am.

As well as the Beatles, the other bands that played that night were Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, Gerry and the Pacemakers, The Remco Four and Kingsize Taylor and the Dominoes.

The Beatles first hit the stage at 8pm before leaving the Ballroom to complete a prior engagement, arranged by Mona Best, on the other side of the River Mersey at the Knotty Ash Village Hall, while the other bands remained at the Ballroom entertaining the audience. Once the Beatles had completed their additional engagement, they returned to the Ballroon and played a second spot at 11.30pm