Former Decca Studio in West Hampstead

• THE former Decca Studio in West Hampstead in its day hosted a number of famous successful acts but was also where The Beatles, with Pete Best on drums, had an audition on New Year’s Day 1962, (Plan to turn studios into school, March 31).

They played live for 50 minutes but were thought to be less than fab and no offer of a contract was made.

In such a case the demo was generally erased and the tape reused. But on this occasion, almost certainly on the initiative of manager Brian Epstein, the tape was kept and was later forwarded to Parlophone which, as we now know, was more receptive.

Such a place should be given a blue plaque and preserved for ever. This historic audition can now be listened to with interest on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlJlwlLnG0g

JOHN McPARTLIN, N2