The refurbishment bringing the Victoria Hall, Radstock, back into community use has now been fully completed by B&NES Council.
A wide range of improvements are now in place, bringing the building up to 21st century standards. The hall, which has been reopened in two stages, saw the upstairs level unveiled to the press this week.
The new upstairs will act as the main entertainment venue, which can also be used as a major facility for community meetings, as well as further rooms of different sizes to accommodate a range of requirements.
Many of these introduce natural light into the building to give a welcoming atmosphere with modern standards of heating and lighting that are environmentally friendly and save on energy costs. Washroom facilities have also been upgraded, with water usage reduction technology, along with disabled access throughout, including a lift to the first floor.
The £660,000 investment by the Council includes £160,000 from the Radstock Community Fund. Keith McCombie, a Surveyor working with B&NES, said: "From inception to completion, the project has taken us about ten months."
Councillor Paul Crossley (Lib-Dem, Southdown), Leader of Council, said: "It is a really good day for the Radstock community with the completion of Victoria Hall. The investment by Bath and North East Somerset Council into the project has resulted in a facility where local people can feel rightly proud. In addition to the excellent rooms now available, we have been able to keep many of the Victorian era features and retain a sense of history.
"The revitalisation of Victoria Hall is part of our overall regeneration plans in the town, together with new homes and jobs for local people, supported by an upgraded road system."
Bath Dance College is operating from Victoria Hall and will be encouraging the community to make full use of the building. When not in use as a dance studio, it will be available for hire for community use and the lessee will maximise community use with a target of twenty hours per week, subject to demand from the community.
George Hill, Principal of Bath Dance College, said: "The enthusiasm shown by the public and community groups using Victoria Hall so far has been fantastic. The facilities are being really well used. More and more people are coming forward with enquiries about how their group can take advantage of this community asset."
The main hall on the first floor currently contains dance bars donated by the Royal Ballet School, who will base all of their classes for the South West in Radstock. In the new year, it is hoped to enable the hall to be a theatre performance space with retractable seating, lighting rigs and curtains, as well as a screen for cinema performances in the future.
During the renovations of this room, a theatre ticket was found under the floorboards for admission to the Princess Theatre, dated 1911. Talking about this, George Hill said: "Perhaps in an earlier time, the Victoria Hall was also the Princess Theatre – it's something we're hoping to investigate."
The Victoria Hall will be hosting a free Opening Party on Saturday, 4th January at 7 p.m. For more information, please call: 01761 438885.