Salisbury City Hall: Council to discuss tenancy approval
The venue could open it's doors again later this year
Last updated 16th Jan 2025
Salisbury City hall could take a step towards reopening next week at Wiltshire Council's next cabinet meeting.
The council will meet to discuss and approve a preferred tenant to reopen City Hall as an entertainment venue.
The council carried out an engagement process in 2024 which helped identify a long-term lease would be the preferred arrangement for prospective tenants.
The venue has been closed since 2020 and has not opened it's doors to the public since, with the council insisting work needed to be completed on the buildings roof.
Should the Cabinet approve a preferred tenant, the would need to agree terms with the provider ahead of a formal announcement, with commercial confidentiality required at this stage of the process.
The council has remained committed to getting City Hall reopened, and Cabinet will also be asked to approve around £300,000 of funding to make improvements to the external fabric of the
building, which be carried out ahead of or during any work being done by the new operator.
It's hoped the venue can reopen in late 2025.
Wiltshire Council Leader, Cllr Richard Clewer, said: “I am optimistic that, following our thorough and sensible approach to reopening this venue, we’ll have a confirmed venue operator very soon. 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 – and all along this has been our number one priority.
“We know people will want us to formally confirm the identity of the proposed tenant now but it’s important we continue to follow the proper process so we do not jeopardise any potential agreements, but all being well we should have some good news very soon.”
The proposals will be discussed at the Council’s Cabinet meeting on 21 January and the full report can be found at here.