Salisbury City Hall future takes step forward with long-term lease plan
Wiltshire Council will insist on the venue operating for entertainment
Plans to secure Salisbury City Hall's future as an entertainment venue have taken a step forward.
Following a recent period of "insightful" market engagement with providers, Wiltshire Council is looking to offer the venue on a long-term lease to ensure it thrives for many years to come.
The engagement process was aimed at establishing the most effective steps forward for the venue which, after considering all the feedback, has been determined as offering the venue to organisations on a long-term lease.
Any partner that joins forces with the Council in reopening City Hall will have to operate it as an entertainment venue, which will be stipulated in any agreement.
Wiltshire Council say they will retain ownership of the venue and are in the process of identifying suitable organisations to take on the lease.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Richard Clewer, said: “We’re pleased to have reached this stage of the process because, as we’ve stated all along, we are fully committed to reopening City Hall as a thriving entertainment venue and see it as key part of the city’s future.
“Following our recent procurement exercise and market engagement work it clearly emerged that looking to offer City Hall out on a long-term lease was the most suitable option and will give the venue the best possible chance of long-term success.
“If we secure an organisation to take on the venue we will remain as owners and ensure that the venue is retained as an entertainment venue, which will complement the overall cultural quarter vision we have for the city.
“These is still work to do before we can confirm any final arrangements, but we’re excited about the future and look forward to securing a provider through a rigorous process as soon as possible.”