The Beatles live: Grafton Rooms, Liverpool – 3 August 1962

Name: The Beatles live: Grafton Rooms, Liverpool
Start: 1962-08-03
Location: Grafton Rooms

August 3, 2026

Friday 3 August 1962 | Grafton Rooms, West Derby Road, Liverpool

On 3 August 1962, The Beatles made their first appearance at the Grafton Rooms in Liverpool, topping a bill that also featured Gerry And The Pacemakers and The Big Three. The show was promoted by Albert Kinder. Although The Quarrymen — the group's predecessor — had previously performed at the Grafton Rooms, this was The Beatles' debut at the venue. They would go on to play there four times in total, with their final appearance on 2 August 1963.

The Grafton Rooms

The Grafton Rooms on West Derby Road was one of Liverpool's most popular ballrooms during the late 1950s and early 1960s. As Merseybeat swept the city, promoters like Albert Kinder began booking beat groups alongside the jazz acts that had previously dominated the venue's programme.

The bill on 3 August 1962 was a snapshot of the Merseybeat scene at its peak — three of Liverpool's biggest acts on a single night. Gerry And The Pacemakers and The Big Three were among the most celebrated groups on the circuit, and The Beatles were already the undisputed headliners.

“Gordon, I made £450 last night at the Grafton. I had four groups including The Beatles and I gave them £10 each and it was a choc-a-bloc and we had 1,000 wanting to get in. I knew then jazz was on the wane and beat was the thing. Then Brian Epstein took them on and he would say, ‘Gordon, I want The Beatles to do Chester.’ I still said that they were too scruffy but I had Gerry and the Pacemakers who were £10 and Billy J Kramer who was £15. And that’s how I missed being a millionaire.”

— Gordon Vickers, quoted in The Cavern by Spencer Leigh

Official Beatles Cavern Shots 1962 T-Shirt

The Beatles in Liverpool, 1962 — on a T-shirt

Officially licensed Beatles merchandise celebrating the Merseybeat era.

Official Beatles “Cavern Shots 1962” T-Shirt →

Key Facts

Date	Friday 3 August 1962
Venue	Grafton Rooms, West Derby Road, Liverpool
Promoter	Albert Kinder
Also on the bill	Gerry And The Pacemakers, The Big Three
Beatles' Grafton appearances	4 in total (3 Aug 1962 – 2 Aug 1963)
Line-up	John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr

West Derby Road, Liverpool — the location of the Grafton Rooms, one of the city's leading ballrooms during the Merseybeat era.

Official Beatles The Cavern 1962 T-Shirt Silver Grey

Celebrate the Liverpool 1962 era — officially licensed Beatles merch

The Cavern 1962 T-Shirt in silver grey — for true Merseybeat devotees.

Official Beatles “The Cavern 1962” T-Shirt →

Context: The Beatles in August 1962

August 1962 was one of the most pivotal months in Beatles history. Just days before this Grafton Rooms show, Ringo Starr had replaced Pete Best as the group's drummer — completing the classic four-piece line-up that would conquer the world. The group were also weeks away from recording their debut single Love Me Do at EMI Studios in London, which would be released in October 1962.

The Grafton Rooms show captures The Beatles at a precise hinge point: still playing the Liverpool ballroom circuit, still earning £10 a night, but on the very cusp of national and then global fame.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did The Beatles play the Grafton Rooms in Liverpool?

Yes. The Beatles played the Grafton Rooms in Liverpool four times in total. Their first appearance was on 3 August 1962 and their last was on 2 August 1963.

Who else performed at the Grafton Rooms on 3 August 1962?

The bill on 3 August 1962 also featured Gerry And The Pacemakers and The Big Three, promoted by Albert Kinder.

How much were The Beatles paid at the Grafton Rooms in 1962?

According to promoter Gordon Vickers, The Beatles were paid £10 for their appearance at the Grafton Rooms on 3 August 1962 — the same fee as the other groups on the bill.

Who was in The Beatles in August 1962?

By August 1962, The Beatles' classic line-up was in place: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, who had just replaced Pete Best on drums.