The Oddfellows Hall, on the west side of Kingston Road, was a large, cavernous venue where the gigs were held upstairs. At the end of the 1950s, Reg Calvert promoted rock & roll dances on Saturday nights with interesting guests such as Billy Fury, Dickie Pride, Vince Eager, Danny Storm and acts covering contemporary songs. There were also singing contests and the likelihood that one of the local Teddy Boys would ‘attract' most support fro the audience (who were encouraged by their mates) in an early Pompey version of The X Factor. Reg Calvert came to a very sticky end a few years later in a dispute around the Pirate Radio scene.
Local bands like the Talismen, the Shamrocks and the Rivals also played there in the early 1960s just before one of Pompey's first and most important jazz clubs relocated to the Oddfellows Hall. The Rendezvous Club, which was run by Ernie Sears, had started in a church in Ashburton Road, Southsea in August 1960. After this, there were spells on South Parade Pier, St Paul's Road, the Railway Hotel, Fratton and the Dockyard Club in Onslow Road, Southsea. The Rendezvous was Pompey's first regular Saturday night jazz club, featuring mainly national and local ‘Trad' acts like the Riverside Jazzmen, the Back O'Town Syncopators, the Bourbon Street Six, Rodney Foster's Jazzmen or the bands of Kid Martyn and Keith Smith.
Towards the end of 1963, audiences were dwindling. In October, the Jazzmen's column in the local paper suggested that jazz in Portsmouth had been "eclipsed by folk" but in truth the real attraction was the new sound of British Beat and Rhythm & Blues. From February 1964, Ernie Sears re-opened the Rendezvous at the Oddfellows Hall and while existing memberships would be valid, the former traditional jazz venue presented new-style rhythm & blues acts like Cyril Davies, the Animals, Long John Baldry, Downliners Sect, the Graham Bond Organisation and local favourites Manfred Mann. This club and Kimbells became Pompey's first mod venues although both were eventually eclipsed by the Birdcage when it moved to Eastney after the summer of 1965. At this point the Rendezvous closed for the last time.
There were a few folk concerts there in the mid-1960s usually involving local favourites Jon Isherwood, Pat Nelson and the Loft Folk Four. Topping the bill were visiting Americans like Bob Dylan's pal Carolyn Hester, the New Lost City Ramblers and Paul Simon or ‘British artists Sandy Denny and the Strawberry Hill Boys (later the Strawbs).
In the 1980s the venue had a few years of success as the Hornpipe Arts Centre with cinema, theatre and live gigs. After that closed around 1990, there was a brief spell as the Regal Palace night club. It's was boarded up.
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 12-2-1931
 15-2-1936
 27-11-1936
Early
12/2/1931 The Universal Dance Band play.
5/12/1934 The Ace Dance Band under the direction of Mr R Bowles play for an NSPCC dance
15/2/1936 Arthur Sreele and his well known Blue Rhythm Band play.
27/11/1936 Mrs Restall's Orchestra play.
1943
7/1/43 Rafeteers at the Oddfellows Hall.
12/1/43 The Sylvans play at the Oddfellows Hall.
14/1/43 Jimmy Harris and his Band at the Oddfellows Hall.
21/1/43 Rafeteers at the Oddfellows Hall.
22/1/43 Rafeteers at the Oddfellows Hall.
Oddfellows matinee The Universal Band.
23/1/43 Jimmy Harris and his Band with Gerry Leach at the Oddfellows.
25/1/43 The Sylvaians at the Oddfellows Hall.
26/1/43 Rafeteers at the Oddfellows Hall.
27/1/43 Jimmy Harris and his Band with Gerry Leach at the Oddfellows.
28/1/43 Rafeteers at the Oddfellows Hall.
29/1/43 Jimmy Harris and his Band with Gerry Leach at the Oddfellows.
30/1/43 Saturday. Oddfellows matinee Universal Band.
Jimmy Harris and his Band with Gerry Leach at the Oddfellows.
1944
April 24th Re-opening of the Oddfellows Hall with dancing to the Melody Makers.
May 3rd Jimmy Harris and his Band at the Oddfellows Hall,
May 15th The Melody Makers playing for dancing at the Oddfellows Hall
June 3rd, Saturday, Matinee dance at The Oddfellows Hall from 2-30pm for 6d.
October 16th Melody Makers at the Odd Fellows Hall.
1945
February 12th At the Oddfellows, dancing to the Melody Makers.
April 2nd Melody Makers at the Oddfellows Hall.
August 6th Melody Makers at the Oddfellows Hall.
December 21st 400 children at Victory Party at the Oddfellows Hall with entertainment from Miss Irene White's Juvenile Entertainers.
1946
March 2nd, Saturday, Jimmy Harris and his Dance Orchestra broadcast on the BBC from the Oddfellow's Hall, Kingston Road.
April 13th, Saturday, Jimmy Harris and his Band, with guest artistes Rita Williams from Variety Band Box, at the Oddfellows Hall broadcast to the nation.
August 12th Melody Makers at the Oddfellows
1947
January 1st Jimmy Harris and his Broadcasting band play nightly, Mon to Sat plus Wed and Sat matinees, at the Oddfellows Hall
February 28th Kingston Ballroom(Oddfellows) re-opens with Jimmy Harris and his Broadcasting Band and vocalist Terry Devon and Portsmouth's own vocalist
late of the Coconut Grove, Pat O'Regan.
April 1st Jimmy Harris and his band at the Oddfellows Hall on a BBC broadcast.
November 21st Jimmy Harris and his Broadcasting Band.
1948
April 22nd The De Reske Orchestra appear at the Oddfellow’s Hall Kingston Road.
October 29th Portsmouth Gunnery Instructors dance at the Oddfellows Hall with music from Graham Leslie and his Band.
1949
January 22nd Saturday, The De Reske Orchestra play at the Oddfellows Hall.
February 28th At the Oddfellows, 'Jive Nite' with Fred Lansdale's Hit Band of the Season.
March 12th The De Reske Orchestra play at the Oddfellows Hall.
March 17th The Teddy Hanks Dance Band play at the Oddfellows on St Patrick's day.
April 13th At the Oddfellows Hall, the De Reske Orchestra play for dancing.
April 14th At the Oddfellows Hall, the Teddy Hanks Four play for dancing.
May 7th The De Reske Orchestra play at the Oddfellows Hall.
May 12th Teddy Hanks Four Dance Band play at the Oddfellows Hall.
June 6th The De Reske Orchestra play at the Oddfellows Hall.
June 15th The De Reske Orchestra play at the Oddfellows Hall.
June 18th Saturday, Saturday The De Reske Orchestra play at the Oddfellows Hall.
July 13th At the Oddfellows Hall, the De Reske Ochestra play for dancing.
September 29th The Teddy Hanks Band play at the Oddfellows Hall.
October 22nd Saturday, The De Reske Orchestra play at the Oddfellows Hall Kingston Road.
October 25th Dancing to Bern Wratten and his Music at the Oddfellows Hall Kingston Road.
October 27th Teddy Hanks band play at the Oddfellows Hall.
1950
December 2nd Saturday, The De Reske Orchestra play at the Oddfellows Hall Fratton Road.
1951
December 10th Madame Canaway's Atractive Juveniles give a performance at the Oddfellow's Hall.
1952
February 6th De Reske orchestra
November 28th Miss Chambers Old Time Music Hall at the Odd Fellows Hall.
1953
January 28th Aladdin is performed at the Odd Fellows Hall by the St Cuthbert’s Church, Copnor Youth Fellowship, with music from the Kay O'Dee Players.
March 30th Celebrated English composer in Hollywood, Anthony Collins gives a talk at the Oddfellows Hall at the first meeting of the 'Long Play Club' organised by Ernest Wyatt of 10, Queens Road, Portsmouth.
October 6th Ad in the Evening News;- Wally Battell dance pianist and band, 9 Lower Grove Road Havant.
At the Oddfellows Hall, the Portsmouth Long Playing Record Club heard a talk by Mantovani who was publicising his latest record, more than 450 people attended.
1954
September 24th The Broadway Orchestra and the Anita Academy of Dance perform at the Oddfellows Hall.
November 12th The Southern Counties Orchestra play for dancing at the Oddfellows Hall Portsmouth.
1955
nil
1956
April 6th The Southern Counties Orchestra play at the Oddfellows Hall.
April 27th The Broadway Orchestra play at the Oddfellows Hall.
September 14th The Southern Counties Orchestra play at the Oddfellows Hall, Kingston Road.
1957
January 24th A party for the blind at the Oddfellows Hall, Kingston Road, had entertainment from The Liddell Sisters with Bill Cole at the Piano.
December 31st De Reske Orchestra play at the Oddfellows Hall.
1958
January 27th 200 blind people attended a social at the Oddfellows Hall, with music from the Leopards Skiffle Group from Hambledon, also Portsmouth Players and Bill Cole.
It is believed that the foillowing Rock nights were organised by Southampton promotor Reg Calvert.
February 10th At the Oddfellows Hall, Kingston Ballroom, Rory Blackwell's Rock and Jive show with Vince Eager, Barry Barron's Live Five, The Nevitt Brothers and the Hi Fi's appear.
August 24th At the Oddfellows Kingston Ballroom, Geoff and Ricky Brooks and the Dominos, The Tony Porter Rock Group and The Strollers play for dancing.
September 7th Billy Fury and Dickie Pride appear in person at the Oddfellows Kingston Ballroom.
October 5th At the Oddfellows, appearance of Terry Dene, Vince Eager with the Beat Boys, plus Portsmouth's own The Hi Fi's with Martine Roche, Barrie James and Geoff and Ricky Brooks.
December 21st Geoff and Ricky Brooks and the Dominoes play at the Oddfellows Hall Kingston Road.
1960
October 1960 welcomed “Big Beat Rock ‘n’ Roll” to the Kingston Ballroom (Oddfellows Hall) and a youthful pop show at the GuildHall starring Jimmy Jones (“Handyman”) with Mark Wynter, Kenny Lynch and the Brook Brothers.
Vince Eager re-appeared at the Oddfellows with Danny Storm.
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1961 nil
1962
In the last week of 1962, the Rivals and the Talismen played at the Oddfellows Hall.
1963
October The Diplomats at the Oddfellows Hall for 3/-
1964
Maybe 1964
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January The Rendezvous returned to the Oddfellows Hall, Kingston Road as a rhythm & blues club in February 8th 1964 with 300 fans for Jimmy Powell & the Five Dimensions.
15/2/1964 Alexis Korner Blues Incorporated
22/2/1964 Graham Bond or Jimmy Powell?
1/3/1964 The Giants (German)
7/3/1964/1964 Downliners Sect
14/3/1964 The Animals
21/3/1964 Long John Baldry & Hoochie Coochie Men
Easter The Animals & Midnite Ramblers
4/4/1964 Graham Bond Organisation
11/4/1964 Downliners Sect
18/4/1964 Alexis Korner Blues Incorporated
25/4/1964 Long John Baldry & Hoochie Coochie Men
16/5/1964 Pretty Things
30/5/1964 John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
13/6/1964 Downliners Sect
20/6/1964 Graham Bond
8/8/1964 The Sheffields
22/8/1964 Jimmy Powell & 5 Dimensions
29/8/1964 Alex Harvey Soul Band
19/9/1964 Little Walter & John Lee’s G’hogs
26/9/1964 Sheffields
3/10/1964 John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
10/10/1964 Downliners Sect
17/10/1964 Soul Agents
24/10/1964 Long John Baldry & Hoochie Coochie Men
31/10/1964 Shorty & Them + Sons of Man
7/11/1964 Downliners Sect (? Weds?)
14/11/1964 Long John Baldry & Hoochie Coochie Men
21/11/1964 Dick Charlesworth & City Gents
28/11/1964 Moody Blues + Sons of Man
5/12/1964 Graham Bond + Roadrunners
12/12/1964 Downliners Sect + Sons of Man
19/12/1964 Long John Baldry & Hoochie Coochie Men + Emmett Hennesy
26/12/1964 Themselves + Sons of Man
1965
2/1/1965 Graham Bond Organisation
9/1/1965 T-Bones + Challengers
16/1/1965 Tony Colton + Roadrunners
23/1/1965 Downliners Sect
30/1/1965 Missing Links + Challengers
6/2/1965 Moody Blues did not arrive, so ….
6/2/1965 Sons of Man + Roadrunners
13/2/1965
18/2/1965 Georgie Fame & Blue Flames (Th)
20/2/1965 Jimmy Powell or Zoot Money?
27/2/1965 Downliners Sect + Clique
3/4/1965 Graham Bond
10/4/1965 (Cancelled?) Moody Blues?
17/4/1965 Herbie Goins
19th April Oddfellows Hall, Kingston Rd., Portsmouth (with Ronnie Jones)
12th June Soul Sisters, Brian Auger Trinity, Sons of Man
26th June Oddfellows Hall, Kingston Rd., Portsmouth
3rd July Graham Bond Organisation, Sons of Man
For the first time, Spinner reported problems with the acoustics at the cavernous Oddfellows Hall, home of the Rendezvous, describing it as “too large” for Brian Auger’s sound and suggesting that the Sons of Man were “too loud”.
29th July The Jazzmen’s column celebrated a major folk concert at the Oddfellows Hall presented by Jon Isherwood with other local artists Barry Roberts, Pat Nelson and the Loft Folk Four supporting American Carolyn Hester, 5/-
The Lost City Ramblers with Mike, another of the Seeger family, came from the USA to play the next Oddfellows concert with fellow countryman Paul Simon and the Country Strings.
14th August Grham Bond Organisatin, Soul Society
28th August The Boz People, Soul Society
1966
Isherwood returned for his Christmas reunion concert at Oddfellows and announced he was leaving Libya and architecture for showbiz.
1967
7/10/1967: Oddfellows Hall: Soul Society & Wrong Direction
1968
There was also a March concert at the Oddfellows Hall starring Sandy Denny and Strawberry Hill Boys(Strawbs).
1977
October 13th, X-Ray Spex with Again Again and Staa Marx
1981
20th Mar 1981 Nite Life
1983
Hornpipe Showcase, Music Comedy and Drama, by Local Amateur Societies
1987
1987 March 28th Gordon Giltrap
1988
30/04/1988 The Flatmates, Red Letter Day at the Hornpipe
18/05/1988 The Chesterfields The Jeremiahs
28/05/1988 The Raw Herbs Kill Devil Hills Mild Mannered Janitors
02/07/1988 Blyth Power Back Foot Airmen
14/07/1988 Jasmine Minks Paul Grovy & the Pop Art Exp The Pop Bandits
1988 August 6th Duck Soup, The Immortals, The Mild Mannered Janitors, Radical Dance, Three Little Piggies
10/08/1988 McCarthy Vee VV
13/08/1988 Anhrefn Cilyn Y Dall Datblygu
19/08/1988 Stump Uncle Ian
24/08/1988 AC Temple Beserker Joe
1988 September 17th The Sect, Red LKetter Day, Mega City 4
04/10/1988 The Las
08/10/1988 Screeming Abdabs The Levellers
22/10/1988 Cud Who's In The Kitchen?
29/10/1988 One Style MDV Ghetto
12/11/1988 Blue Aeroplanes Rodney Allen
16/11/1988 Colorblind James Experience Three Little Piggies
22/11/1988 Word Domination Enterprises Cranes
26/11/1988 Poison Girls Dancette
03/12/1988 U.K. Subs Red Letter Day
1988 December 16th The Immortal Yellow Pig Gig, The Immortals, Yellow Cab Co, The Three Little Piggies
22/12/1988 Word Domination Enterprises Cranes
1989
March 31st, Inspiral Carpets plus Mild Mannered Janitors
07/04/1989 Psylons Mild Mannered Janitors
08/04/1989 Slab! Twelve 88 Cartel
1990
1990 July 14th Jo Brand, James Macabre, Patrick Marber
1990 October 27th John Hegley
1991
1991 The Cholmondeleys, Cold Sweat
Other guests included such as Billy Fury, Dickie Pride, Vince Eager, Danny Storm. Local bands like the Talismen, the Shamrocks and the Rivals also played there in the early 1960s
February 6, 1965 Moody Blues Rendezvous Club, Southsea canceled Show date and venue from contracts (noted as canceled)
The Rendezvous Club, was run by Ernie Sears, originally in a church in Ashburton Road, Southsea in August 1960, then spells on South Parade Pier, St Paul's Road, the Railway Hotel, Fratton and the Dockyard Club in Onslow Road, Southsea. The Rendezvous was Pompey's first regular Saturday night jazz club, featuring mainly national and local ‘Trad' acts like the Riverside Jazzmen, the Back O'Town Syncopators, the Bourbon Street Six, Rodney Foster's Jazzmen or the bands of Kid Martyn and Keith Smith.
February 1964, Ernie Sears re-opened the Rendezvous at the Oddfellows Hall and presented Cyril Davies, the Animals, Long John Baldry, Downliners Sect, the Graham Bond Organisation and local favourites Manfred Mann. In 1965 the Rendezvous at the Oddfellows closed for the last time.
Folk concerts in the mid-1960s Jon Isherwood, Pat Nelson the Loft Folk Four. visiting Americans Carolyn Hester, the New Lost City Ramblers, Paul Simon, Sandy Denny and the Strawberry Hill Boys.(later the Strawbs).
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The Oddfellows Hall stage
The Regal Palace night club
In the late 1990's the building became The Regal Palace night club. The club boasted many super features huge rooms, an elegant and welcoming foyer, large bar areas, spacious dance floors and the very best in light and sound system.
Sadly it closed its doors after just two years, more on this as it becomes available, and one lower corner has become an Indian restaurant
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The Oddfellows Hall in 2009
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The building was empty for thirteen years and has now become a care home.
The Oddfellows Hall, now the Blue Water Nursing Home in 2015
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