Council makes moves towards reopening Guild Hall

Preston City Council has announced that it has made the first moves towards reopening Guild Hall, the iconic events venue which has been closed since 2019.

The venue had been under council control under 2014, when local entrepreneur Simon Rigbypaid £1 to take ownership. However, the company which he established to run the venue went into administration in 2019 and Rigby died in 2020.

Preston City Council says that a number of legal roadblocks have prevented it from retaking control, but that now a confidential agreement paves the way to the venue one again opening its doors.

A comprehensive refurbishment will be required before that happens.

Coun Matthew Brown, leader of Preston City Council, said: "Preston’s iconic Guild Hall can now look forward to a bright future once more. The much-loved Guild Hall is vital to the economy of the city and we know that our residents will be glad to hear the good news. The council will be exploring all options in order to give the building a new lease of life and a viable future."

Adrian Phillips, chief executive of Preston City Council, added: "There has been lots of interest in future plans of the building and we understand the significance and importance of the Guild Hall to the people of Preston, the city and the wider city region.

“We are now in a position where we can prepare a business case in the hope of securing a long-term, sustainable, and profitable future for the building. It will be a significant task to deliver a positive and optimistic future for The Guild Hall Preston but we are committed to bringing it back into use and once again, it being at the heart of culture and entertainment in Preston.”