The four men in silver jackets singing behind a red-draped rail on a stadium stage at night

Five men in black and white standing arm in arm in front of a blue-lit faceted set

Take That

Two staples hold the centrefold. Pull one.

A club on a Huddersfield square, a school sports hall, a Manchester news conference, and a stage giant that sat down and stood up again. Pull the staples, then go and stand where it happened.

Left: Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Howard Donald and Jason Orange on the Circus tour, June 2009. Rach · CC BY 2.0. Right: All five together on the Progress Live stage at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland, 30 May 2011. vagueonthehow (Flickr) · CC BY 2.0. No free photograph of the band in the 1990s could be found, so both are from the reunion tours.

Sources

Huddersfield and Manchester, 1990

About twelve people.

Nigel Martin-Smith held the auditions that made the band. Howard Donald remembers that six people turned up, and five were picked. Robbie Williams auditioned in 1990 and was named the fifth and last member of the Greater Manchester band.

Howard Donald remembers one of their first gigs as a night at Flix, a Huddersfield club, in front of about 12 people.

A wide stone square in sunshine with the columned railway station behind and a statue in front — St George’s Square and Huddersfield station in 2021. Flix stood on the edge of the square. Malc McDonald · CC BY-SA 2.0

Early 1990s · St George’s Square, Huddersfield

Flix, St George’s Square

Flix was opened by the Huddersfield DJ John Quinn in a converted wool warehouse on the edge of St George’s Square.

It was later renamed Sunset Boulevard, and then Josephines.

Richard Downey, a Huddersfield promoter of teenage dance nights, said he booked Take That more than 200 times, and paid them £30 in petrol money the first time.

The square is open to everyone, in front of the railway station. The club has gone and nothing marks it.

Sources

Howard Donald singing in a dark T-shirt under a spotlight — Howard Donald on the reunion tour in Newcastle, 26 November 2007. Laura from Washington/Newcastle/Sunderland, UK · CC BY 2.0

A stone theatre front with tall columns and ROYALE carved in the pediment — The former Theatre Royal on Peter Street, Manchester, in 2015. Anthony O'Neil · CC BY-SA 2.0

1990 · The former Theatre Royal, Peter Street, Manchester

Discotheque Royale

It hosted Take That’s first television performance, on The Hitman and Her, in 1990.

The Theatre Royal on Peter Street reopened in 1989 as the Discotheque Royale, known to clubbers as Royales.

Built in the 1840s, it had been a cinema and a bingo hall. The club ran into the early 2000s, and the building has stood empty since 2011.

Empty and boarded up. See the front from Peter Street.

Sources

1990–91 · Manchester and beyond

The club circuit

For about their first 18 months they played gay clubs. Robbie has called it a safe place to grow up.

Sources

Radisson

Radisson Collection Hotel, Edwardian Manchester

Peter Street, Manchester

A hotel in the old Free Trade Hall on Peter Street, a few doors from the Discotheque Royale where the band first played on television.

Check rates

Waltham, near Grimsby · 13 November 1991

Jelly first, then school.

On 13 November 1991 the band played Waltham Toll Bar, now Tollbar Academy: their first gig at a school.

July 1991, the first single. Turn it out.

Too many pupils, too few seats. Draw a lot.

A tree-lined main road with a sign for Toll Bar Roundabout and Waltham — The A16 at Toll Bar Roundabout, Waltham, beside the school, in 2013. JThomas · CC BY-SA 2.0

13 November 1991 · Station Road, New Waltham, near Grimsby

Waltham Toll Bar school

About 300 pupils watched in the sports hall. The band played three numbers, among them Promises, out five days later.

They came to launch the school’s new radio station. So many pupils wanted to go that the audience was chosen by drawing lots.

A working school, now Tollbar Academy. See it from Station Road; it is not open to visitors.

Sources

June and July 1995

A field, then a rehearsal room.

A huge festival crowd in hats facing the Pyramid Stage at dusk — The Pyramid Stage at Worthy Farm during Liam Gallagher’s set, Glastonbury 2019. Rodw · CC BY-SA 4.0

June 1995

Worthy Farm

In June 1995 Robbie Williams spent the Glastonbury weekend at Worthy Farm with Oasis. Afterwards he decided he wanted out of the band.

He wore a red tracksuit with white stripes. Thirty years later the look became the cover of his album Britpop.

He came back to play the festival in 1998.

A working farm that holds the festival in most Junes. Go with a festival ticket.

Sources

A long red-brick railway viaduct of many arches over a road — The railway viaduct across Stockport. Steven Haslington · CC BY-SA 2.0

July 1995

The barracks rehearsal

In 1995 the band were rehearsing at a Territorial Army barracks in Stockport when Robbie Williams walked out, Howard Donald recalls.

On 17 July 1995 it was announced that Robbie was leaving the band, with immediate effect.

The other four decided to carry on.

No account names the barracks, so it is not on the map. The town’s railway viaduct is the view everyone knows.

Sources

Robbie Williams singing in black with two guitarists under blue stage lights — Robbie Williams back with the band on the Progress Live tour, Sunderland, 30 May 2011. vagueonthehow (Flickr) · CC BY 2.0

Robbie Williams went on alone. The photograph is from 2011, when he was back with the band.

Glastonbury Festivals

Glastonbury Festival 2027

Worthy Farm, Pilton

Wednesday 23 to Sunday 27 June 2027 at Worthy Farm. Weekend tickets were £408 including booking fee and have sold out; returned tickets go back on sale in a resale in spring 2027.

Sold out · spring 2027 resale

Ticket information

A grey stone square with a Gothic memorial and red-brick buildings — Albert Square, Manchester, in 2012. David Dixon · CC BY-SA 2.0

Manchester · 13 February 1996

They sat down.

On 13 February 1996 the four told a news conference in Manchester that Take That would split, after one more single and the Brit Awards the next week.

Mark Owen said they had done all they could do as Take That.

The Samaritans set up a telephone line for fans upset by the news.

No account names the audition room or the room where the split was announced, so neither is on the map. Albert Square is the middle of the city.

Sources

2005–2006 · four of the five

Getting back up.

25 November 2005AnnouncedGary Barlow announced the reunion tour at a London press conference on 25 November 2005, with every original member except Robbie Williams.
30 minutesSold outThe first 11 arena dates sold out within 30 minutes, and 275,000 tickets went in under three hours.
March 2006MovedThe reunion’s Wembley dates moved here in March 2006, because building work at the new Wembley Stadium was running late.

An aerial view of a large oval stadium with its pitch open to the sky — The City of Manchester Stadium from the air in 2023. Arne Müseler, cropped by Blackcat · CC BY-SA 3.0 DE

2006 · Joe Mercer Way, east Manchester

City of Manchester Stadium

Stadium dates followed at Wembley, the City of Manchester Stadium and the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

Manchester City’s ground, now the Etihad Stadium. Go to a match or a concert.

Sources

Purple light beams over a big outdoor crowd facing a distant stage — A summer night at the Milton Keynes Bowl in 2023. Mewhen123 · CC BY 4.0

March 2006 · The National Bowl, Watling Street, Milton Keynes

Milton Keynes Bowl

The reunion’s Wembley dates moved here in March 2006, because building work at the new Wembley Stadium was running late.

An open-air bowl used for summer concerts. Go in with a ticket for a show.

Sources

A packed stadium pitch and stands in daylight before a show — A concert crowd at the City of Manchester Stadium, 17 June 2006. Andy Buckingham · CC BY 2.0

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Stadium of Light, Sunderland · 27 May 2011

Stand him up.

Progress Live opened here on 27 May 2011, the first of 36 dates and the first tour with Robbie Williams back in the band. The set’s giant came out sitting down. Raise him joint by joint.

Seated · about 20 metres

Seated, head down. Start with the head.

The centrepiece was a working mechanical man about 20 metres tall, nicknamed OM. It slid out from behind the stage sitting down, went out into the middle of the stadium with the band on it, and rose to its full height for Never Forget.

A seated giant figure on a stadium floor with the lights up and people heading for the exits — The mechanical man sitting down again as the crowd leaves, Stadium of Light, 30 May 2011. Rach · CC BY 2.0

A red-brick stadium with a white roof reflected in still river water — The Stadium of Light across the River Wear in 2010. Mrs Logic · CC BY 2.0

27 May 2011 · Millennium Way, Sunderland

Stadium of Light

The Circus Live tour opened here on 5 June 2009. All 650,000 tickets had sold in under four and a half hours.

Sunderland’s football ground on the north bank of the Wear. Go to a match or a concert.

Sources

A huge faceted head rising over the top of a wide stadium stage under a grey sky — The mechanical man’s head above the Progress Live stage in daylight, Sunderland, 30 May 2011. vagueonthehow (Flickr) · CC BY 2.0

Wembley Stadium

Elephant, then robot.

Progress Live began a record eight nights here on 30 June 2011, one more than Michael Jackson played on his 1988 Bad tour. The first of those nights drew 85,291 people.

A 60ft moving robot stood above the stage, in place of the giant mechanical elephant from the band’s previous Wembley shows. At the end it took them out into the middle of the crowd.

The photograph is the robot’s head over the stage at Sunderland in 2011.

The national stadium. Go to a match or a concert, or book the stadium tour.

Sources

Wembley Stadium

Wembley Stadium Tour

Wembley, London

The stadium’s own tour, into areas usually kept for the people on the pitch and the stage. Book on the stadium’s site.

Book a tour

2019 · 2024

Twelve, then 28,000.

Back in the towns where it began.

The blue curved side of a modern football stadium with glass stairwells — The stadium on Stadium Way, Huddersfield, in November 2023. Mtaylor848 · CC BY-SA 4.0

June 2019 · Stadium Way, Huddersfield

John Smith’s Stadium

In June 2019 the band played the John Smith’s Stadium on their Greatest Hits tour, to around 28,000 people.

From the stage Howard asked whether anyone there had been at Flix. Afterwards he thanked the town for waiting in the rain.

A working football and rugby ground a short walk from the town centre. Go to a match or a concert.

Sources

A large brick and glass arena building at a city crossroads — The arena at Hunts Bank, Manchester, from Trinity Way in 2019. G-13114 · CC BY-SA 4.0

May 2024 · Hunts Bank, Manchester

AO Arena

In May 2024 the band’s five Manchester nights moved here from Co-op Live, which had delayed its opening.

The arena’s general manager said it would not be a Take That tour without a stop in Manchester.

A working arena beside Victoria station. Buy a ticket for a show.

Sources

AO Arena

Shows at the AO Arena

Hunts Bank, Manchester

The band’s Manchester nights moved here in 2024. Pick a show from the arena’s own listings.

See what’s on

Hilton

Hilton London Wembley

Wembley, London

A hotel a short walk from Wembley Stadium, where the band played eight nights in 2011.

Check rates

Visit

Where it is now

10 places you can visit. The audition room, the room where the split was announced and the Stockport barracks are not named in any account, so they are listed and left off the map.

Pins mark public places; private homes are named but not pinned.

General reference · Public access · Coordinate precision: area · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. The square is open to everyone, in front of the railway station. The club has gone and nothing marks it.
General reference · Public access · Coordinate precision: building · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. A working football and rugby ground a short walk from the town centre. Go to a match or a concert.
General reference · Restricted access · Coordinate precision: site · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. A working school, now Tollbar Academy. See it from Station Road; it is not open to visitors.

St George’s Square and Huddersfield station in 2021. Flix stood on the edge of the square. Malc McDonald · CC BY-SA 2.0
St George’s Square, Huddersfield
Flix, St George’s Square
Howard Donald remembers one of their first gigs as a night at Flix, a Huddersfield club, in front of about 12 people.
The square is open to everyone, in front of the railway station. The club has gone and nothing marks it.
Sources
The stadium on Stadium Way, Huddersfield, in November 2023. Mtaylor848 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Stadium Way, Huddersfield
John Smith’s Stadium
In June 2019 the band played the John Smith’s Stadium on their Greatest Hits tour, to around 28,000 people.
A working football and rugby ground a short walk from the town centre. Go to a match or a concert.
Sources
The A16 at Toll Bar Roundabout, Waltham, beside the school, in 2013. JThomas · CC BY-SA 2.0
Station Road, New Waltham, near Grimsby
Waltham Toll Bar school
On 13 November 1991 the band played Waltham Toll Bar, now Tollbar Academy: their first gig at a school.
A working school, now Tollbar Academy. See it from Station Road; it is not open to visitors.
Sources

Stay

Sleep near the stages.

A hotel on Peter Street by the old theatre, and one a walk from Wembley.

Radisson

Radisson Collection Hotel, Edwardian Manchester

Peter Street, Manchester

A hotel in the old Free Trade Hall on Peter Street, a few doors from the Discotheque Royale where the band first played on television.

Check rates

Hilton

Hilton London Wembley

Wembley, London

A hotel a short walk from Wembley Stadium, where the band played eight nights in 2011.

Check rates

Go there

Walk the cities.

The Wembley Stadium tour, and marketplace music walks in Manchester and London.

Wembley Stadium

Wembley Stadium Tour

Wembley, London

The stadium’s own tour, into areas usually kept for the people on the pitch and the stage. Book on the stadium’s site.

Book a tour

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Manchester music tours

Manchester

Live marketplace results for music walks in Manchester. Check each itinerary for Peter Street and the city centre.

Live marketplace results · itineraries change

Compare tours

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London music tours

London

Live marketplace results for music history tours in London.

Live marketplace results · itineraries change

Compare tours

What’s on

Pick a night out.

Glastonbury in June 2027, and the AO Arena’s and Wembley’s own listings.

Glastonbury Festivals

Glastonbury Festival 2027

Worthy Farm, Pilton

Wednesday 23 to Sunday 27 June 2027 at Worthy Farm. Weekend tickets were £408 including booking fee and have sold out; returned tickets go back on sale in a resale in spring 2027.

Sold out · spring 2027 resale

Ticket information

AO Arena

Shows at the AO Arena

Hunts Bank, Manchester

The band’s Manchester nights moved here in 2024. Pick a show from the arena’s own listings.

See what’s on

Wembley Stadium

Concerts at Wembley Stadium

Wembley, London

Eight nights in 2011 are still the record. See the stadium’s own list of matches and concerts.

See what’s on

Take it home

Books and records.

Three books and four albums tied to these places.

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Take One

Take That

The band’s own illustrated account, published in 2009.

Find the book

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A Band Called Take That

Peter Robinson

Peter Robinson’s book on the band, published in 2006.

Find the book

Bookshop.org UK · Ad / affiliate

Every place and moment behind this page, with sources.

Search all places and Moments Current state Sort

12 of 12 places · 17 of 17 Moments

Flix, St George’s Square
St George’s Square, Huddersfield
- About twelve people
  One of their first gigs, at Flix in Huddersfield, to about 12 people.
John Smith’s Stadium
Stadium Way, Huddersfield
- Back to Huddersfield
  Huddersfield again: about 28,000 people, and a question about Flix.
Waltham Toll Bar school
Station Road, New Waltham, near Grimsby
- Jelly and custard
  The video for Do What U Like has them smeared in jelly and custard.
- The first school
  The first school gig, to about 300 pupils chosen by drawing lots.
Manchester: the start and the stop
Manchester city centre
- Six turn up
  Nigel Martin-Smith’s audition: six turn up and five are picked.
- The club circuit
  For about their first 18 months the band play gay clubs.
- No more
  The four announce the split in Manchester, and the Samaritans open a line for fans.
Discotheque Royale
The former Theatre Royal, Peter Street, Manchester
- On television
  Their first television performance, on The Hitman and Her, at the Discotheque Royale.
The barracks rehearsal
Stockport, south of Manchester
- The walk-out
  Robbie walks out of rehearsals at a Stockport barracks; his exit is announced on 17 July.
Worthy Farm
Glastonbury Festival site, Pilton, Somerset
- Glastonbury
  Robbie Williams spends the festival weekend with Oasis and decides he wants out.
City of Manchester Stadium
Joe Mercer Way, east Manchester
- Going back on tour
  The reunion tour sells out and adds stadium nights, Manchester among them.
AO Arena
Hunts Bank, Manchester
- A Manchester stop
  Five Manchester nights move to the AO Arena.
Milton Keynes Bowl
The National Bowl, Watling Street, Milton Keynes
- Moved to the Bowl
  With Wembley unfinished, the reunion’s London dates move to Milton Keynes.
Stadium of Light
Millennium Way, Sunderland
- The Circus opens
  The Circus Live tour opens in Sunderland.
- OM stands up
  Progress Live opens with five in the band and a 20-metre mechanical man.
Wembley Stadium
Wembley, north-west London
- The Circus ends
  The Circus Live tour ends at Wembley, to more than 80,000 people.
- Eight nights
  A record eight nights at Wembley, 85,291 people on the first.

Take That

About twelve people.

Flix, St George’s Square

Discotheque Royale

The club circuit

Radisson Collection Hotel, Edwardian Manchester

Jelly first, then school.

Waltham Toll Bar school

A field, then a rehearsal room.

Worthy Farm

The barracks rehearsal

Glastonbury Festival 2027

They sat down.

Getting back up.

City of Manchester Stadium

Milton Keynes Bowl

Manchester music tours

Stand him up.

Stadium of Light

Elephant, then robot.

Wembley Stadium Tour

Twelve, then 28,000.

John Smith’s Stadium

AO Arena

Shows at the AO Arena

Hilton London Wembley

Visit

Where it is now

Flix, St George’s Square

John Smith’s Stadium

Waltham Toll Bar school

Radisson Collection Hotel, Edwardian Manchester

Hilton London Wembley

Wembley Stadium Tour

Manchester music tours

London music tours

Glastonbury Festival 2027

Shows at the AO Arena

Concerts at Wembley Stadium

Take One

A Band Called Take That

My Take

Take That & Party

Everything Changes

The Circus

Progress

The sources

Flix, St George’s Square

About twelve people

John Smith’s Stadium

Back to Huddersfield

Waltham Toll Bar school

Jelly and custard

The first school

Manchester: the start and the stop

Six turn up

The club circuit

No more

Discotheque Royale

On television

The barracks rehearsal

The walk-out

Worthy Farm

Glastonbury

City of Manchester Stadium

Going back on tour

AO Arena

A Manchester stop

Milton Keynes Bowl

Moved to the Bowl

Stadium of Light

The Circus opens

OM stands up

Wembley Stadium

The Circus ends

Eight nights