Major progress to revive iconic, disused city centre venue
The Bradford Live redevelopment project has reached a milestone in transforming Bradford’s former Odeon into a multi-purpose live events venue.
After a nine-month demolition programme, the steel and concrete partitions that once divided the building have now been removed, allowing the full structure of the original auditorium to be fully revealed.
Designed by the architect William Illingworth, the Art Deco building, completed in 1930 as the New Victoria Cinema, was the largest cinema ever built in England outside of Greater London, with 3,318 seats, a restaurant and ballroom. On the Theatre’s Trust ‘At Risk’ register, its much-loved iconic twin-domes dominate Bradford’s cityscape and its restoration is set to drive economic regeneration within the area.
A main contractor will soon be appointed to lead on the internal and external works that will transform the building into a 4000-capacity live music venue.
Funding for the project has been secured with £4m from the Government’s Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund, a £959,500 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and £357,500 from the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership’s growth deal.
The venue will be run by Birmingham’s NEC Group, which has made a 30-year commitment with plans for over 200 events annually. The space is set to be a multi-purpose live events venue offering a strong calendar of world class music, comedy and family entertainment, with multi-purpose conference and meeting spaces too.
Bradford Live’s managing director Lee Craven said: “This is a fantastic milestone to have reached. The strip out was the riskiest part of the whole project because we weren’t exactly sure what we’d find, but the works were completed without major problems and we’re delighted with the outcome. We’ve uncovered some stunning historical features that we’re going to work hard to restore.”
“I’ve always believed the building has huge potential and now it is finally opened up, the scale and promise of the venue, and the impact it will have for Bradford, can be seen by all.”
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s executive member for regeneration, planning and transport, said: “It’s really exciting to see this project progressing so well. It will be an amazing venue when restored and a great complement to the existing entertainment venues in the district, bringing jobs and opportunities in the region.”
Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and leader of Bradford Council, said: “It’s fantastic to see how Growth Deal funding is helping to transform this much-loved art deco landmark into an exciting venue that will attract thousands of people into the city centre and create new jobs when it opens.
“The regenerated venue will be a valuable addition to the vibrant cultural offer of the Leeds City Region and support the ongoing economic transformation of Bradford.”
David Renwick, director, England: North, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We’re very proud to support the regeneration of Bradford Live, as the former Bradford Odeon is a building the community of Bradford loves and had fought to save.
“It’s great that in the year that the National Lottery celebrates its 25th birthday, we’re involved in such a great community project. The architecture and engineering to create such a fantastic space is brilliant and it will be an amazing venue for live bands and music just like when the Beatles and others played here in the past, as many Bradfordians can recall.”
