Latest Entertainment spot opens its door

The Country Bumpkin has come to town – to provide Andover with its most ambitious entertainment centre.
The three directors of the Country Bumpkin,
Mr Patrick Langdown (second left), Mr James Monro (third left) and Cllr. Lance Barrett (fourth left) with manager Tony Pickernell (extreme right) and some of the guests.
(Image reproduced by kind permission of The Andover Advertiser)
Thanks also to the archives of Tony Pickernell
(Click here for larger photo)

The T.A. centre in East Street has been transformed with remarkable ingenuity into a sparkling new hall, which will provide a much needed and impressive asset to the town.
The shell of the old Drill Hall remains – but nothing else of a building, which in the past has offered only cold comfort and unwanted space.

The interior has been reshaped and tastefully modernised and decorated in what will undoubtedly become a most popular rendezvous, with seating for more than 300.
No effort has been spared in creating a feeling of comfort, warmth and relaxation.

An impressive feature of the new hall are the individual party tables for four, sectioned off and raised on platforms on either side of the dance floor.
The stage has been rebuilt and reduced in size and a multi-level ceiling has replaced the steel girders for so long an unpleasant reminder of the uncomfortable old hall, which was built in 1907.

Coloured lights in the ceiling can be altered to add to the pleasure of the particular function being held at the time.
The main dance hall is partitioned off from the spacious reception lounge by a velvet curtain and on either side of the lounge stairways lead to luxurious ladies and gents toilets on the second storey, complete with cloakrooms.
Other pleasing features are the long, attractive bar, thickly carpeted lounge with well-arranged seating, many of them over-looking the dance floor.

Man behind the ambitious project is Cllr. Lance Barrett, Deputy Mayor and impresario who has organised entertainment in the Andover area for several years.
Cllr. Barrett appreciated the potential of the T.A. centre as an entertainment centre many years ago and last year he launched Anton Promotions along with co-directors, James Monro, Andover businessman, and Patrick Langdown, an accountant.

They obtained a lease of the hall from the owners, the Post Office, and several months ago they set about the gigantic task of converting the building into a centre for a Varity of entertainment, including dinner-dances, receptions, banquets, wrestling and bingo.

The transformation – which those who knew the old hall will readily appreciate – is not yet complete.
New kitchens are at present being built and plans are in hand to build the “County suite” on the upper storey.
This will be a self-contained smaller hall, which can be booked for receptions, meetings and other functions, with the use of the facilities in the country Bumpkin downstairs.

A touch of glamour is provided by six attractive “Bumpkin Girls” dresses in mini-dresses and white boots who act as waitresses and hostesses.
For the more formal occasions the girls will wear maxi dresses.
Kisses for the Mayor (Cllr. Gerald Finch) from two of the Bumpkin girls during the opening function on Friday night.
The girls (left to right) are:
Pat Doyle, Diane Liney, Jackie Cleary, Eileen Donley, Leslie Gates and Susan Edgington.
(Image reproduced by kind permission of The Andover Advertiser)
Thanks also to the archives of Tony Pickernell
(Click here for larger photo)

Friday saw the opening of the Country Bumpkin in all its splendour when the directors entertained 250 guests who include the Mayor (Cllr. Gerald Finch) and Mayoress and Mr Wilfred Orange, chairman of the Board of Ballroom Dancing and a Freeman of the City of London.

Also present were Ada Unsworth, founder of the successful “Come Dancing” formation team, borough and rural district councillors, local dignitaries, businessmen, industrialists and representatives of various local organisations and club and their wives.

The Country Bumpkin will be managed by Mr. Tony Pickernell, himself a well-known old time ballroom dancer.
His father, Ken is manager of the Garrison Theatre at Tidworth.
During the evening Cllr. Barrett thanked everyone who had helped with the project and the Mayor wished the directors success with the new venture.

(The above article appeared in the Andover Advertiser on the 5th November 1971 )
Thanks also to the archives of Tony Pickernell

02.09.2008. 21:07

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