MUSIC fans have recalled their younger years watching bands at one of Bradford's historic venues.

The memories came flooding back just as St George's Hall gets ready for a major refurbishment.

The venue has now closed for a year to allow the scheme to go ahead, part of which is being funded by a £1.5 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Planning permission has been granted for the project which will see the 1850s building's sandstone exterior restored, as well as a re-design of the front-of-house and bar areas, removing partitions added in the 1980s.

Other major changes include glazing the colonnade on Bridge Street to provide a new draft lobby and reinstating three original entrance doors from Hall Ings, as well as a new lift.

Bradford Council, which runs what was the country's first purpose-built concert hall, said a start date on the work had yet to be agreed.

Adam Renton, general manager, Bradford Theatres, said: "We are expecting to receive a start date within the next six weeks. Investigative work will commence on April 11."

Music fans praised the hall's acoustics.

Jonathan Lorrimer, a Bradford-born musician and writer, described it an as "acoustically perfect" venue ideally suited to the bands he saw there as a lad of 14 in 1979.

In just a few short months he saw The Buzzcocks, The Cure, The Jam, The Damned, The Stranglers, Elvis Costello, The Clash, The Undertones, Joy Division, The Specials and more.

Recalling The Clash, he said: "I was down the front, it was incredible; coolest band ever."

Journalist Chris Young, who saw Judas Priest earlier this year, praised the "great acoustics".

"We had a really good view and it was an energetic crowd. Hot and sweaty, like a metal concert should be. It was the perfect venue for them."

David Allan, commenting on Facebook, recalled seeing Thin Lizzy on the Live and Dangerous tour.

"I remember queuing for the tickets in the snow with the queue round the building. When the office opened those at the back tried to push in. Lizzy and Phil were brilliant - RIP Phil."

Philip Tonks recalled: "I saw Metallica back in '86, Motorhead, Maiden, Anthrax, Megadeth - so many top metal bands played there back in the day.

"It would be great to see them back playing at St George's Hall. Bradford had one of the best music scenes."

Lynda Shepherd said: "We used to go there for our speech days from Rhodesway School. I've seen David Essex there four times - it was great."

Lorraine Cardwell said: "I saw Iron Maiden back in either 1981/82. Amazing."

Twitter users also recalled the good times.

User @CaspersAnorak remembered being "utterly mesmerized by The Cure's opener 'A Forest' and then Siouxsie's sheer presence. Never seen anything like it."

Dave Hey remembered one particularly deafening gig in the 1970s.

"I saw Hawkwind with Motorhead as the support on the day of the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977. Nothing open apart from one cafe. Still deaf!"