AN ANNUAL celebration of The Alarm is returning to its roots in Rhyl at a venue's event space which has been named in honour of the band's beloved lead singer.
The event space at the Queen’s Market, on Sussex Street, will now be known as 'The Mike Peters Arena'.
The site marks a place in Alarm history: Mike used to work briefly as a barman in the Bistro, and Jules and Mike were married in 1988, holding their wedding reception at Buckingham's above the Queen’s. The new multi-million-pound Queen's Market, which opened in July 2025, is a food and market hall, located on the site of the former Queen's Buildings, which previously housed the Bistro bar/nightclub, Savoy Hotel, and market hall.
Jules shared her deep pride that her late husband was being honoured in such a way, sharing that both she and Mike had always been "very proud" to come from Rhyl.
She said: "Mike’s dying wishes were for me to continue with The Gathering.
"In my deep grief I was overwhelmed at the prospect of organising The Gathering without our main man, Michael Leslie Peters, but somehow we gathered the strength to fulfil Mike’s wishes and deliver the Gathering in Cardiff this year. Evan, our youngest son, stepped up to the plate and just like his dad, smashed it out of the park.
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"The success of the Gathering in Cardiff gave me the confidence and made my mind up to bring The Gathering back - home to Rhyl.
"Mike and I have always been very proud to come from Rhyl. We have always recognised its special beauty.
"We met at the Downtown Club on Rhyl Promenade, we shared our first kiss on Rhyl Beach, we discussed our dreams to have a baby called Dylan whilst looking out at the Rhyl Harbour, we got married at the Queen’s on Rhyl Promenade.
"When we landed back from our American tours, we would always gravitate back to Rhyl, hitting the bars and the beach because it was 'our town'."
Jules explained that Denbighshire County Council approached the family to ask if they would like to name the events space, at the Queen’s Market, the ‘Mike Peters Arena’.
Jules, who shares children Dylan and Evan with Mike, said: "We were overwhelmed.
"Our grief is very raw and we miss Mike every single second of every day but this wonderful gesture has strengthened us as a family with a renewed determination to lend our full support and passion for Rhyl, and especially the Mike Peters Arena.
"It brings us great comfort that The Alarm Family will visit Rhyl from near and far to celebrate Mike Peters and The Alarm for many years to come, putting Rhyl on the map as it deserves to be.
"I'd like to thank Denbighshire County Council for honouring Mike - the boy from Rhyl who shared big dreams to write songs that changed peoples’ lives.
"The Mike Peters Arena will be a testament to all that Mike achieved.
"Mike never forgot where he came from - straight out of Rhyl."
Mike, the lead singer of The Alarm who lived in Dyserth with his family, died on April 29, 2025, aged 66 from blood cancer.
His family marked his 67th birthday on February 25, 2026.
The Gathering is an annual, multi-day music festival and fan convention, curated by Mike. Fans of The Alarm come from all over the world for annual weekend celebration that includes acoustic sets, quizzes, Q&A sessions and celebrates the band's music.
The first Gathering took place at Rhyl Town Hall in 1992.
Jules shared with the Journal that Mike said, after walking on stage at Rhyl Town Hall: "I was greeted by a sea of all my best and loyal fans, people who knew all the words to my new songs and had trusted me enough to follow me from their hometowns, all over the county and back to mine.
"It was a very special evening that has lived long in the memory and the beginning of a rock and roll reversal, where I got to stay at home and the fans went on tour to my home town.
"The next day, I realised that The Gathering was already established in the mindset of everyone who had made the effort to be there. I immediately made plans for a return to Rhyl Town Hall in 1993."
Evan, 19, said: "I’m so happy that the council have decided to name a venue after Dad.
"When we were young, Dad would always take us to Rhyl Beach. One minute we’d be staying for a month in Venice Beach, California and the next we’d be back on Rhyl Beach. Dad always encouraged Dylan and me to recognise the beauty of North Wales and to be proud of where we come from.
"We’ve toured the world with The Alarm since we were babies. My first gig was three months old in New York but just like mum and dad, North Wales was always home.
"We can’t wait to bring The Gathering home and celebrate Dad’s memory and spirit and show the world where dad came from, where he grew up in the Crescent on the Prom.
"I’m also looking forward to performing at the Mike Peters Arena and helping to bring great talent to the stage.
"It’s our hope as a family that the Mike Peters Arena can attract some fantastic bands to Rhyl."
"Thanks to everyone who made this happen. I can’t wait to honour my Dad and step up on stage in January 2027."
Councillor Jason McLellan, Leader of Denbighshire County Council, said: “We’re absolutely delighted that Jules Jones Peters has agreed to The Gathering returning to Rhyl, and specifically to Queen’s Market. We’re even more delighted to be able to pay tribute to Mike Peters by naming the venue after him.
"The Mike Peters Arena, which is right in the centre of the town, will be an ideal location for this fantastic celebration of The Alarm’s music and we very much look forward to welcoming fans from far and wide to this special occasion.
"Mike was always a fervent champion of North Wales and Rhyl, so it feels fitting that The Gathering is coming home to the town where he grew up.”
Dylan Evans, Operations Manager at Queen’s Market, said: “The news that The Gathering is returning to Rhyl is amazing and that Jules, Dylan and Evan Peters have chosen the Queen's Market is a huge honour. The fact we can pay tribute and cement Mike Peter's legacy by naming the arena in his glory is a huge privilege and we would like to thank the family for their support and passion as we've been putting this together.
"We're looking forward to a long-term partnership of Love, Hope and Strength".
Jules hopes that every year, the Peters' family can present Rhyl to The Alarm family and encourage them to share positive images of Rhyl around the world.
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