Swindon & Wiltshire News
New operator appointed to run Salisbury City Hall
A new operator has been found to run music and comedy venue Salisbury City Hall as an entertainment venue the building’s owner, Wiltshire Council, has announced.
Confirmation came at the council’s cabinet meeting on Tuesday, January 21.
Although the council says it cannot confirm the identity of the operator until contracts have been signed, it has been widely reported that the team behind Swindon Meca – which puts on live music, comedy and other events from a former Art Deco cinema in the town – is the preferred venue operator.
The council has also agreed to spend £300,000 of funding to make improvements to the external fabric of the building.
This work will be completed either in advance of the lease starting or concurrently with any fit-out by the occupier, says the council.
Wiltshire Council leader, Cllr Richard Clewer, said: “It’s always been our priority to open City Hall as a live entertainment venue in a long-term sustainable way without subsidy.
“I’m pleased we have now agreed a preferred operator and that we now look to agree formal terms.
“The process we have followed, and the necessary due diligence we have carried out, means that when the venue does reopen then it has the best possible opportunity to thrive as an entertainment venue.
“Despite the local speculation of the preferred operator, it’s important we as a council continue to follow the proper process so we do not jeopardise any potential agreements, but all being well we should have some good news and formal confirmation very soon.”
The new operator will run the venue on a long lease, but will not own the building. A condition of the lease is that it remains an entertainment venue – a function it has served for over 60 years.
In its heyday, the 1,000-seat venue played host to The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Who, and David Bowie.
It closed to audiences in 2020, but was used as a regional venue for the Covid vaccination programme.
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