http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-beatles-eight-days-a-week
John Warner… Back in the 60’s the Beatles almost came to Maidstone. Brian Epstein and one of his management team came to the Star Ballroom to see Stan Stanwell with a view to arranging a gig. Money was agreed and most of the conditions met. The fly in the ointment was the fact that because the stage was low and the audience could get right up close to it. Epstein insisted on a wire netting barrier covering the whole of the stage. We consulted the fire brigade who rejected this item as a danger to both the groups and to the audience, so no Beatles. This news was never released, in the local paper as we knew how upset our punters would be.