Opening in 1975 in the former West End Junior School once attended by comedian
Arthur English, the West End Centre (or the 'Westy') is described as "the creative hub of Aldershot and the surrounding areas". It was originally run by volunteers and faced closure in its early years until the
Poet Laureate John Betjeman had the building locally listed. The
Graeae Theatre Company was based at the Centre from 1981 to 1982. When managed by
Hampshire County Council the centre faced closure again in 2007 until public protests forced the decision to be reversed.
Daniel Kitson,
Simon Munnery,
Nish Kumar,
Phill Jupitus,
Justin Moorhouse,
Pete Firman and
Al Murray. Bands who have appeared at the WEC include
Blur,
Peter Green,
Chas & Dave,
Foals,
The 1975,
Biffy Clyro,
The Temperance Movement,
Nine Below Zero,
Funeral for a Friend,
PJ Harvey,
The Xcerts and
We Are the Ocean. Today the Centre is managed by
Hampshire Cultural Trust as an
arts centre and venue for professional touring shows, the theatre space having a capacity of 106 with raked seating. the son of the actor
Colin Jeavons. ==Gallery==