Impulse Studios Wallsend UK memories

06/08/2025

Former Borough Theatre on the site of where Impulse Studios also once was housed.

Previously located High Street East, Wallsend.

The architects were J. Fleming Davidson and Charles D. James.

Councillor Joseph Duffy, who was elected Mayor of Wallsend in November 1909 and died in July 1910 while in office, built the theatre.

The theatre opened as a live venue in October 1909. The interior featured red plush, ornate plasterwork, and a white marble staircase.

It had a seating capacity of 1,336 people and was equipped with a Bioscope projection box at the rear of the circle.

1914, Black's Theatres operated the venue.

1930, it had 1,100 seats across the stalls, circle, and gallery levels.

In 1928, Denman Picture Houses, a subsidiary of Gaumont British Theatres, took over the Borough Theatre.

In 1935, the cinema underwent minor alterations.

In 1946, the theatre was renamed Gaumont.

In 1949, it was refurbished and altered according to the plans of the architectural firm Percy L. Browne and Harding.

In 1960, the theatre was converted into a bingo hall and at some point reverted to its original name.

A false ceiling was installed from the front of the gallery to the proscenium.

Bingo operations ceased in 2005, though an amusement arcade in the former foyer continued for several more years.

The amusement arcade chain went out of business in 2005, leaving the building empty.

Campaigners attempted to save the building, arguing it could be refurbished and transformed into a cultural entertainment venue.

However, North Tyneside Council deemed it an eyesore and financially unviable for refurbishment, deciding to demolish it.

Around 2011, the building was demolished, and flats were constructed in its place.

27/06/2024

17/09/2023

Got a very old EP by a band called The Grip who I believe used Impulse. Think they were from Byker? On Mrs Dixon records. None of us can find out anything about it. Any idea please?

10/07/2023

Anybody know any of these people who where all part of the recording team

Micky Sweeney
John Ashcroft
Roger Hempsall
Bob Stephenson
Pete Stuart
Willie Payne
Ray Harley
Art Mowat

04/07/2023

Message from Paul James Fortune

This is a long shot but do you happen to have any history/memory or information on an artist that once recorded an album from these studios by the name of Paul G. Ambrose in the 1970s?

I am trying to track him down as I believe he could be my biological father

Any information would be very much appreciated

Thank you

💯

18/04/2023

From Gaz Grey, may be of interest ?

Big thank you to Keith Newman last night for giving us some airtime on Radio Northumberland to promote the Garage/Station Celebration/Exhibition beginning October 2023(we must have a more catchy name)
Exact dates to be announced very soon.
We wanted to open on 21 Oct but found out the Undertones are playing same evening????
Anyway fingers crossed we can pull this thing off.
It will be at the Gallery for contemporary art in High Bridge Street Newcastle, just along from the Stand Comedy Club, The Duke of Wellington is just across the street.
To all those folks who attended the Garage/Station please get behind this we will be fundraising to help us put this event on but if anyone has any memorabilia that we could display, badges, flyers , fanzines please get in touch (we will have cabinets).
I believe this was a really special time for young people in Gateshead/Newcastle and the two venues were like no other venues then or now.
The celebration is long long overdue.
The event will also assist in looking at how Youth working with young people was acheived back then something that has great relevance today.
Please either get involved or come along and see the exhibition, be great to see some faces we haven't seen for 40 years.

07/04/2023

Neat Records was a British independent record label based near Newcastle, England. The label was established in 1979 by David Wood, who was the owner of Impulse Studios in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, England. A key figure in the establishment of the label was Steve Thompson. Thompson was house producer at Impulse at the time and helped set up Neat, became the A&R manager and produced all the initial recordings, as well as managing the publishing arm, Neat Music. The label was sold in 1995 to Sanctuary Records.