Back From The Brink
Following a few turbulent years, Preston’s iconic Guild Hall will be partially open for the next six months to host a number of events. Alma Stewart looks at its 51-year history
The Guild Hall is an iconic landmark in the centre of Preston and many Prestonians will have fond memories across the years of events such as concerts, plays, graduations, balls, exhibitions and the many popular shops within its 1970s Brutalist architecture.
In the Seventies, the Guild Hall was commissioned to replace Preston’s original Public Hall, formally a corn exchange, on Fleet Street commissioned by the mayor, Nicholas Grimshaw in 1822. Corn exchanges fell out of use during the Great Depression of British Agriculture from 1873. Preston’s then mayor, Edmund Birley, commissioned the building to become a public hall to house major events.
The building was repurposed as the Public Hall between 1881 and 1882. A hall and galleries were created and could hold 3,300 visitors. At the time, the Public Hall was Preston’s premier entertainment venue and hosted performances by the biggest music artists of the day such as The Beatles (1962, 1963) Led Zeppelin (1971), Genesis (1971) and David Bowie and the Spiders from Mars (1972).
The Public Hall closed in March 1973 and lay unused and empty. Twenty years later, the building was remodelled behind the original Grade II listed facade and re-opened as the Corn Exchange pub in 1993 and currently, as 1842.
Construction on the new Guild Hall, on Lancaster Road, began in 1969. Not only was it to house two theatres, the ground floor level was to contain the Guild Hall Arcade shopping complex. This was linked to the bus station by a subway which has since been filled in. An enclosed footbridge remains from the bus station car park that leads directly into the venue’s upper foyer.
The new Preston bus station opened in 1969. The new Guild Hall, in the similar Brutalist style to the bus station, was designed by Robert Matthew and Johnson Marshall. It was due to be ready for the Preston Guild celebrations of 1972 but because of various delays including a builders’ strike, it officially opened in 1973. The complex was created with two venues – The Grand Hall which holds around 2,034 people and the Charter Theatre which holds around 780 people.
The first major music concert was held on 9th January 1973. The band Fumble were support to David Bowie who had asked for the auditorium windows to be blacked out to enhance the show’s effects. This was followed on 30th January by a performance by Led Zeppelin.
Other notable music artists to perform here include Elton John (1973, 1976, 1979), Queen (1974, 1975), Bing Crosby (1977), The Jackson 5 (1979), Meatloaf (1986), The Smiths (1986), The Stone Roses (1989), Van Morrison (1990, 1992), Blondie (2003) and McFly (2007).
The Guild Hall also hosted various snooker championships from 1978 and the University of Central Lancashire also held graduation ceremonies here for many years. The annual pantomimes were always popular as was the variety of shows and concerts that filled the extensive programmes.
But in the 2010s as austerity began to bite, owners Preston City Council struggled with the huge running costs of such a vast building.
In July 2014, the Guild Hall was sold to local businessman Simon Rigby but the venue closed in May 2019 and in June 2019 the business placed into administration and closed.
Following a legal case, the venue came back under council ownership in 2023. Plans were made to reopen the theatre with the first event to be the Preston Weekender. However, in September of last year, it is believed that RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) is present in the roof panels of the Grand Hall and Charter Theatre. Following national guidance and pending a thorough investigation by specialist structural engineers, both venues remained closed and secured.
However, good news was announced recently that the revitalised foyer space, now named The Guild Lounge, will be host to a diverse winter programme of events running from October 2024 through to March 2025.
Making the change from a bar space to a studio theatre, The Guild Lounge will host a variety of events, including live music performances from well-known artists, classical music concerts, fringe theatre productions, a regular comedy club, family-friendly entertainment, festive shows, community performances, and unique one-off events.
Councillor Martyn Rawlinson, Cabinet Member for Resources and Deputy Leader of Preston City Council, said: “The opening of The Guild Lounge is a momentous occasion for Preston. This venue not only breathes new life into our city’s entertainment offer but also provides a space for local artists and performers.
“We are committed to supporting the arts and listening to the needs of the community, and The Guild Lounge is a testament to that dedication. We look forward to welcoming everyone to this exciting new chapter for Preston.”
As for the long-term future of the Guild Hall, nobody is sure, but let’s hope it can once again enjoy its glory days providing first-class entertainment in the heart of the city on a permanent basis.
The programme kicks off on 3rd October with the Disco Inferno show.
