Originally opened on a different site in 1969, it claimed to be the longest-running live music venue in the United Kingdom, and hosted early performances by acts such as Dire Straits and U2.

[2] It quickly outgrew these premises and relocated to a 250-capacity venue behind a menswear shop on King Street in the early 1970s, before moving to Castle Hill in 1994, which afforded a capacity of 1,000.

A spokesman for Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council stated, however, that this was not part of the plan at that time, although the redevelopment might extend to include Castle Hill at a future date.

[4][5] The venue hosted performances by U2, UB40, Blur, Manic Street Preachers, Elvis Costello, Skunk Anansie, The Stone Roses, Primal Scream, Doctor Feelgood, Radiohead and Judas Priest.

[2] In 2000, the venue celebrated its 30th anniversary by hosting a two-day music festival at nearby Dudley Castle featuring Terrorvision, Ned's Atomic Dustbin, and former Wonder Stuff frontman Miles Hunt.