A Campus West stalwart, who has worked there for more than three decades, has paid tribute to the beloved Welwyn Garden City venue as it turns 50.
Steve Baker started working at Campus West in 1992 as a cinema projectionist, before becoming a duty manager.
“Campus West is incredible. It means everything to me. I’ve always said I would have done this job for free if I could have survived that way,” he told the Welwyn Hatfield Times.
“I came here in 1992 as a cinema projectionist, and that’s all I wanted to do growing up. Campus West and the management gave me that opportunity.
“It’s special to be part of this anniversary. I remember the 40th anniversary, and it really doesn’t feel like it’s been 10 years since then.”
Despite the 50 years of success and service to the community, Campus West initially ran into problems, but Steve believes the venue is a “survivor”, thanks to the adaptations it has gone through.
“The important thing about Campus West is that to this day, it still serves the community,” he said.
“If you look back at its early years, it always seemed doomed for failure. There were claims of vandalism and structural problems, as well as issues with running costs.
“I’ve been here all this time and you look at it now, it has been a survivor. It’s changed, it’s adapted and it continues to play and important role for the people of Welwyn Garden City.
“We’ve survived by looking at what the community needs, and tailoring it to them.”
One of those adaptations saw the opening of the West One nightclub, with the party spot becoming a local legend over its 10-year run.
Steve believes West One was a “very important” period for Campus West, saying: “The nightclub was very significant and is still talked about today.
“It was an 800-capacity venue and it was virtually the whole of the ground floor.
“Walking in when it was first opened literally blew you away. You could have been almost anywhere because it look so high class for the time.
“It was absolutely buzzing. Those days were really a highlight for Campus West. It was a very, very important time.”
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