Unassuming building Scousers travelled for miles to visit

An unassuming building would see Scousers travel for miles to visit it back in the late 70s and early 80s. If you grew up in Merseyside during those years, you'll likely remember visiting or even hearing about Deeside Leisure Centre, which doubled as a major music venue and attracted popular artists from across the globe.

Located in Queensferry in North Wales, the complex became a leading rock venue after the local council invested in a skin to cover the old ice rink. It not only welcomed music fans from the local area, but people from across Merseyside who would arrive by coach or train to see their favourite musicians.

A music mecca in its time, the first concert at the site is said to have been Boney M in 1979. But concert goers also saw household names such as The Clash, Dire Straits, The Who, AC/DC, Iron Maiden, Blondie, Gary Numan, The Police, The Jam, Bob Marley and more there, North Wales Live previously recently reported.

Trips to Deeside are still fondly remembered by people in our region, so we decided to take another look back at how loved the venue was and the memories made there. Paul Lavin, who first went to a concert at Deeside Leisure Centre as a teenager, previously told North Wales Live: "The capacity of that ice rink, it was just a big metal shed.

"Thinking back now the sound must have been awful, just a big echo chamber, a massive shed with an ice floor with a carpet on it. The capacity generated a lot of heat and the ice started to melt and by the end of the concert your feet were standing in freezing water. But to be honest you didn't really care, you were seeing people that you’d only ever seen on the telly and I've heard people say they couldn't have cared less if the water came up to their knees, they would have still gone."

In 1980, Paul remembers seeing his "hero at the time" Gary Numan and paying £3.75 for the ticket. Other concert prices at the venue included Status Quo in 1984 for £7.50, ACDC for £4.50 in 1980 and Blondie for the same price that same year.

The ECHO previously shared an image of the once leading concert venue on our Facebook page. And ECHO readers were quick to share their memories of travelling to Deeside Leisure Centre and the acts they saw perform.

Steven John Proctor said: "I ran the coaches to Gary Numan from the club I DJ’d at called Cagney’s ,which was featured in a nostalgia piece a few weeks ago." Albert Smith said: "Seen The Jam a few times always remember Paul Weller's dad coming out saying if you don't stop fighting The Jam will not come on. Also saw The Beat Radio One Road Show."

Stephen Smith wrote: "Remember the place being built. We used to save up our school lunch money and buy one ticket for the tallest lad to get in, then he would open the fire escape doors and we'd all pile in. That worked a treat for a few gigs until they moved the stage at one concert and we ended up getting in backstage, we ran across the stage during the support act and dived into the crowd. Good times."

Alan Hassell posted: "Saw Priest supported by Maiden, March 80, C/DC Nov 80 and Rush 81." Julie van Woerdekom wrote: "Saw Saxon and Motorhead there (can't remember the year) and walking home along the train line, because I lived in Neston and always missed the last train x."

David Quinn said: "Seen The Police in there in 1980, brilliant venue." Julian Sowerbutts commented: "Watched Judas Priest supported by Iron Maiden 80 or 81."

Stephen Connolly posted: "We went to see Billy Joel in the early 1980s, fantastic." Philip Wyn Davies posted: "Jerry Lee Lewis did a great show there."

John Pickles said: "Always a warm welcome off the local lads on hearing our accents." Tony Pendleton wrote: "My dad parked just under that tree on the left as me and mates went in to see The Jam. We came out a bit early as it got a bit violent in there. Also saw Gary Numan there."

Alison Jones said: "I saw Blondie, Tavares and Gonzales there. 79/80 I'm sure I saw the Jam there too. Got the train from Upton station." Chrissie Marie said: "My first Quo concert was there. Standing on cardboard boxes as the water seeped through! Loved it."

Gary Robbo wrote: "Saw Adam & the Ants there - from what felt like a mile away!." Patricia Denmark wrote: "Went to my first concert there to see Gary Numan !."

Graham Jones commented: "Rush, Permanent waves tour October 1981 and Genesis on their Abacab tour 1982." Shaun Maher posted: "Seen Whitesnake there in 82'...coach from Liverpool, still got my ticket, boarded out ice rink..!!!."

Denise Staniland said: "I saw The Police there, sat on the frozen rink, Sting was late and I think he'd broken his arm.. My bum was numb!." Stephen O'Brien commented: "Genesis 1982, feet were freezing." Mark Molloy said: "I saw Motorhead there on a Sunday night. Wednesday morning my ears were still ringing. We were a third of the way back from the stage."

Helen Morgan wrote: "Saw Genesis there 1982. We were down at the front, very squashed and man, it was loud!!!! My ears rang for a couple of days afterwards!!!!!!." And Paul C Joel posted: "I saw Eric Clapton and Blondie. It got very hot in the venue during the Blondie performance apart from my feet due to the ice below!."

But in 1983, many will remember a massive fire on site, which saw a number of concerts cancelled for months. The curtain later came down on the centre’s role as a major rock venue in the mid-1980s, with Dire Straits the final big name to grace the stage.