Historical Leeds landmark announces major refurbishment project

An iconic building in Leeds is set to get a fresh new look, creating brand new events spaces and enhanced facilities, in a three year refurbishment project starting next year.

ConferenceLeeds, the conference bureau for the city of Leeds, is pleased to announce that Leeds Town Hall has recently confirmed a major refurbishment project, which is set to restore the much-loved Leeds landmark across the next three years, bringing with it new and exciting events spaces which will enhance the city’s conferencing proposition.

The investment project will see the stunning town hall, opened by Queen Victoria back in 1858, undergo extensive improvement work over the next three years. The building will benefit from new seating and enhanced sound proofing in the beautiful Victoria Hall, two new bars, a brand new events space which will allow for smaller events, more toilet facilities and a completely new interior decoration scheme for all public areas. The Leeds City Centre Box Office will also relocate to the Victoria Hall level of the town hall and a large, fully accessible reception area will be created.

Award winning architects Page\Park are now designing the scheme, with work expected to start in 2021. The building is scheduled to reopen in 2022 in time for the Leeds 2023 city-wide cultural festival. Funding for the project will come from Leeds City Council’s capital fund, with some of the costs of the interior refurbishments, including the organ and seating, funded by a public campaign.

Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council, said: “Leeds Town Hall is not only one of the city’s most popular and recognisable buildings, it’s also a symbol of our history, our heritage and our culture. For more than 160 years, this beautiful feat of architectural excellence has stood at the heart of our city, welcoming hundreds of thousands of people to all manner of events and celebrations each year. It is absolutely crucial that key heritage assets like our town hall are secured and preserved for future generations and we’re proud to be investing in this wonderful building now and ensuring that it remains part of the story of Leeds for centuries to come.”

Claire Heap, Head of ConferenceLeeds, said: “Leeds Town Hall is a truly iconic landmark in the city, and it draws in conference organisers from all over the world with its historical significance and unique character. The building welcomed more than 340,000 visitors last year, playing host to top flight comedians, world class orchestras, family shows, international film, music and the eighth Leeds International Beer Festival, so it incredibly exciting to see this investment take place. We are particularly excited about the added events spaces the refurbishment will bring, and we are sure that once it re-opens in 2022 it will be an even more popular space for conferences and events of all sizes!”