The Beatles brought the curtain down on six consecutive nights of concerts at the Winter Gardens in Margate, Kent, on Saturday 13 July 1963 — performing their nine-song set to two packed houses, as they had done every night of the run.
| Date | Saturday 13 July 1963 |
| Venue | Winter Gardens, Margate, Kent |
| Run | Final night of six consecutive shows (8–13 July 1963) |
| Format | Two houses per night |
| Era | Beatlemania / Please Please Me era |
The Beatles at the Winter Gardens, 13 July 1963
This was the final night of a six-night residency at the Winter Gardens in Margate — one of the most prestigious seaside entertainment venues on the south-east coast. The Beatles performed two shows each evening, playing to capacity crowds at the height of the Beatlemania that had swept Britain following the release of ‘Please Please Me’ in January 1963 and their debut album in March.
By July 1963, The Beatles were the biggest act in Britain. ‘From Me To You’ had been number one for seven weeks earlier in the year, and ‘She Loves You’ was just weeks away from release (it came out on 23 August 1963 and became the best-selling single in UK chart history at that point). The Margate residency was part of a busy summer touring schedule that saw them play seaside venues across England.
The setlist
The Beatles’ nine-song repertoire for the Margate run was:
- ‘Roll Over Beethoven’ (Chuck Berry)
- ‘Thank You Girl’
- ‘Chains’ (Goffin/King)
- ‘Please Please Me’
- ‘A Taste Of Honey’ (Scott/Marlow)
- ‘I Saw Her Standing There’
- ‘Baby It’s You’ (Bacharach/David/Williams)
- ‘From Me To You’
- ‘Twist And Shout’ (Medley/Russell)
The set reflects the group’s repertoire at this precise moment: a mix of their own compositions alongside the American R&B and pop covers that filled their debut album. ‘Twist And Shout’ — recorded in a single take at the end of the Please Please Me session on 11 February 1963 — was the show-stopping closer. ‘From Me To You’ was their current number one. ‘Roll Over Beethoven’ was George Harrison’s regular vocal showcase.
The Winter Gardens, Margate
The Winter Gardens is a Grade II listed entertainment venue on the seafront at Margate, Kent. Opened in 1911, it was built as a covered garden and concert hall to serve the thriving Edwardian seaside resort. With a capacity of around 1,800, it was one of the largest entertainment venues on the Kent coast.
During the 1960s, the Winter Gardens hosted many of the biggest names in British pop and rock, making it a key stop on the summer seaside touring circuit. The Beatles’ six-night run in July 1963 was among the most celebrated engagements in the venue’s history.
The Beatles in July 1963
In July 1963, The Beatles were John Lennon (vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica), Paul McCartney (vocals, bass guitar), George Harrison (vocals, lead guitar), and Ringo Starr (drums). Their debut album Please Please Me had been at number one in the UK for 30 consecutive weeks. Recording sessions for their second album, With The Beatles, had begun at EMI Studios on 18 July — just five days after this final Margate show.
Brian Epstein managed the group’s affairs, and their touring schedule was relentless. The summer of 1963 saw them play seaside residencies at Margate, Weston-super-Mare, Llandudno, and Bournemouth, interspersed with television appearances and recording sessions.
Margate, Kent
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Frequently Asked Questions
- How many nights did The Beatles play the Winter Gardens, Margate in 1963?
- The Beatles played six consecutive nights at the Winter Gardens in Margate from 8 to 13 July 1963, performing two houses each evening.
- What was The Beatles’ setlist at Margate in July 1963?
- The Beatles performed nine songs at the Winter Gardens: ‘Roll Over Beethoven’, ‘Thank You Girl’, ‘Chains’, ‘Please Please Me’, ‘A Taste Of Honey’, ‘I Saw Her Standing There’, ‘Baby It’s You’, ‘From Me To You’, and ‘Twist And Shout’.
- What was happening with The Beatles in July 1963?
- In July 1963, The Beatles were at the peak of early Beatlemania. Their debut album Please Please Me had been number one for 30 weeks. Recording sessions for With The Beatles began on 18 July 1963, just five days after this final Margate show.
- What is the Winter Gardens, Margate?
- The Winter Gardens is a Grade II listed entertainment venue on the seafront at Margate, Kent. Opened in 1911, it has a capacity of around 1,800 and was one of the key venues on the south-east England touring circuit during the 1960s.
- What number one did The Beatles have in July 1963?
- ‘From Me To You’ had been number one earlier in 1963. By July, ‘She Loves You’ was imminent — it was released on 23 August 1963 and became the best-selling UK single in chart history at that point.
- Is the Winter Gardens Margate still open?
- Yes, the Winter Gardens in Margate is still open and operating as an entertainment venue. It is a Grade II listed building on Marine Terrace, Margate.
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