The Bedworth Civic Hall is a multi-purpose entertainment venue in the town centre of Bedworth, Warwickshire, England.
 Hall entrance | |
 | |
| Address | High Street Bedworth England |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 52°28′44″N 1°28′18″W / 52.478773°N 1.471775°W |
| Owner | Bedworth Civic Hall Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) |
| Capacity | 763 |
| Current use | Theatre |
| Construction | |
| Opened | September 1973 |
| Renovated | 2004 |
| Closed | October 2022 |
| Reopened | July 2024 |
The centrepiece of the venue is a 763-seat hall, other facilities included a gallery, meeting rooms, a bistro, a coffee bar and a small hall.[1][2]
History
editThe facility was opened in September 1973. It was owned and managed by Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council.[3] In 2004, the hall underwent a major refurbishment costing £1.4 million.[1][2] In 2021, the hall was used as a vaccination centre during the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] In October 2022 the borough council announced that the Civic Hall would close permanently, citing the cost of maintaining the venue, but they stated that it would be redeveloped into a new theatre and library.[5][6][7] However in March 2024 it was announced that it would be reopened in phases, after the council transferred the running of the venue to a community-driven organisation, Bedworth Civic Hall Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on a 20 year lease.[8] It was reopened on 19 July 2024.[9]
Notable acts
editIn 1990, the world famous opera singer Luciano Pavarotti sang here as a rehearsal with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.[10]
Other notable acts to have performed at the venue include Lenny Henry, Billy Ocean, Pam Ayres, Billy Fury, AC/DC, Ken Dodd, Morecambe and Wise, The Drifters, Larry Grayson, Norman Wisdom and Cilla Black.[11]
References
edit
- ^ a b "Civic Hall, Bedworth". Theatres Online. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
- ^ a b "Civic hall set to close for refurbishment". BBC Coventry and Warwickshire. 15 April 2004. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
- ^ "Bedworth Civic Hall". CWN. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
- ^ "Bedworth's Covid-19 vaccine hub beats national target as hundreds of jabs given every day". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
- ^ "'Much loved' Bedworth Civic Hall to close permanently". BBC News. 3 October 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ Harrison, Claire (3 October 2022). "Bedworth's Civic Hall will never reopen - and could be bulldozed". CoventryLive. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
- ^ "'Much loved' Bedworth Civic Hall to close permanently". BBC News. 3 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
- ^ "Civic Hall in Bedworth will finally re-open after council lease confirmed". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ "Historic day for Bedworth as cherished venue finally re-opens its doors". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ "Potty over Pavarotti... in Bedworth". Coventry Telegraph. 7 September 2007. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
- ^ "BEDWORTH CIVIC HALL". We Love Coventry & Warwickshire. Retrieved 2 September 2020.