The Beatles live: YMCA, Hoylake, Wirral

This was The Beatles’ only live appearance at the YMCA in Hoylake.

It was booked not by the group’s manager Brian Epstein, but by the enthusiastic and tenacious club organiser Charles Tranter, who turned up one day at the Casbah Coffee Bar, owned by Pete Best’s mother Mona, and offered The Beatles £30 for a single performance.

It was a generous offer, and one The Beatles were unable to turn down. Tranter had previously asked them to perform on 8 September 1961 but they were already booked to play at St John’s Hall in Liverpool.

Sadly for Tranter – and indeed The Beatles – the audience at the YMCA were less enthusiastic about their live shows. Having grown restless at their lengthy between-song banter, they booed the group off stage.

Following the aborted YMCA show, The Beatles travelled back to Liverpool where they played an all-night show at the Cavern Club. They took to the stage there after midnight.

The YMCA was originally called the Hoylake Institute. It was situated on the corner of Hoyle Road and Market Street, but was later demolished and retirement apartments were built on the site.