The first phase of the £5.6m Newbridge Memorial Hall was officially unveiled yesterday.

Manic Street Preacher James Dean Bradfield described the huge role Newbridge Memo has played in his career, comparing his time there to "the price of an education.

He was a barman there between 1986 and 1989 and said: "It was the only place that would give me a job and it educated me. I was amazed how the community came together, it used to be packed every Sunday and it was a really warm place to work. I was learning how to play at the time and it played a big part."

Mr Bradfield returned yesterday to help officially open the first completed phase of the restoration and described how the venue helped shape his guitar-playing and career.

When he began working there, fellow Manics Nicky Wire and Richey Edwards had left their hometown of Blackwood to attend university in Swansea, with Mr Bradfield re-sitting his A-Levels, doing occasional labouring work and busking in Cardiff.

He worked there on Tuesday nights for ballroom dancing, for weddings on Saturdays and Sunday night Blues.

"I had a solid working class upbringing, but this took it up a notch," he said. "For the Blues night, there was groups similar to a Gwent Hell's Angels and the Newbridge rugby boys.

"It sometimes kicked off, but the atmosphere and excitement were amazing."

While he said it sometimes had a "roadhouse vibe", Mr Bradfield used to be captivated by the Blues music and took drinks to the dressing rooms of performers such as Steve Marriott of Small Faces fame.

He added: "It was an amazing place, with a lot of amazing musicians. They would sign my records and give me lots of tips.

"Seeing these gave me confidence and was a real education. I was seeing how they acted and not how not to act. I was in touch with music, dreaming about it and participating in reality as well."

Even the committee men gave musical tips, encouraged Mr Bradfield and let him have time off when the Manics began performing more often.

It is preserving the legacy of these working class men that he believes is the most important aspect of the restoration.

He added: "It put me in touch with old guys who had worked down the pit. There was no generation gap and these people had dignity and stood for something we could only hope to emulate.

"It was a generation we cannot top. That's not to be pessimistic about the future but in places like this you're reminded about what we really stand for."

Despite the huge impact the Memo has had on his life, Mr Bradfield, who now lives in Cardiff, has so far resisted the temptation to pen a song about it. He joked: "If I did, it would probably be about drinking or losing your woman to another man."

IN an emotional ceremony, Lord Touhig officially opened the first completed phase that includes a plush new library, wooden banister and two new functions rooms.

The second phase, which will have a new cinema and ballroom is currently being worked upon is due to be open in around 10 months.

Lord Touhig described a "meeting that changed the course of history in this community" in 2003, when the Memo was boarded up and locals thought they were going to lose it.

He said: "People packed out of the meeting and down the street. I said there is no hope if all you do is walk down the High Street and say 'My grandad helped build this'. You have to use this.

"Ten years later and tens of thousands of people have been here including musicians, actors and Royalty."

He also praised chairman Howard Stone, describing his "impassioned voice and ideas" and "tireless work".

A plaque was also unveiled in memory of Bronwen James, who was a regular contributor to the fundraising appeal. The locally-born author died in 2009 and the library is in her memory.