{{Short description|Entertainment venue in Preston, Lancashire, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox venue | name = Preston Guild Hall | nickname = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | fullname = Preston Guild Hall and Charter Theatre | former_names = | logo_image = | logo_caption = | image = [[File:Preston Guild Hall 1.jpg|250px]] | caption = Pictured in April 2015 | pushpin_map = United Kingdom Preston central | pushpin_mapsize = | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Preston city centre | pushpin_label_position = | coordinates = {{coord|53|45|35|N|2|41|51|W|type:landmark|display=inline}} | address = | location = [[Preston, Lancashire]] | type = Concert venue (Grand Hall)<br />Theatre (Charter Theatre) | event = | broke_ground = | built = | opened = {{Start date and age|1973|df=yes}} | renovated = | expanded = | closed = | demolished = | owner = Preston City Council | operator = Preston Guild Hall Ltd | surface = | scoreboard = | cost = | architect = | project_manager = | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | general_contractor = | main_contractors = | seating_type = | capacity = 2,034 (Grand Hall)<br />780 (Charter Theatre)<br />350 (Foyer) | suites = | record_attendance = | dimensions = | field_shape = | acreage = 1,087 m<sup>2</sup> (Grand Hall)<br />336 m<sup>2</sup> (Charter Theatre)<br />529 m<sup>2</sup> (Foyer) | volume = | tenants = | embedded = | website = | public_transit = [[Preston bus station]] }} '''Preston Guild Hall''' is an entertainment venue in [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]], [[Lancashire]], England, which opened in 1973.
==History== The Guild Hall was commissioned to replace the town's [[Public Hall, Preston|Public Hall]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.madeinpreston.co.uk/General/musicinpreston.html|title=Music in Preston|work=Made in Preston|access-date=22 August 2020}}</ref> The new building, which was designed by [[RMJM|Robert Matthew, Johnson Marshall]], was due to be ready for the [[Preston Guild]] of 1972, but after construction was delayed, it only officially opened in 1973.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://publicaccess.preston.gov.uk/swift/apas/run/WCHDISPLAYMEDIA.showImage?theSeqNo=17707&theApnkey=3309&theModule=1|title=Historic Building Record: Preston Guild Hall|publisher=Preston Council|access-date=27 August 2019}}</ref>
The complex has two performance venues, the Grand Hall which holds 2,034 people and the Charter Theatre which holds 780 people.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prestonguildhall.com/about-the-guild|title= About us|publisher= Preston Guild Hall| access-date= 24 October 2014}}</ref> There is direct pedestrian access, via footbridge, from the adjacent [[Preston bus station]] and car park.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.guildhallpreston.co.uk/article/7153/History-of-the-Guild-Hall-Preston|title=History of the Guild Hall Preston|publisher=The Guildhall, Preston|access-date=13 December 2024}}</ref>
Artists that have performed at the venue include [[Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ccguk.org/article/427/Royal-Liverpool-Philharmonic-Orchestra-The-Birds-81017-Preston-Guild-Hall |title=Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra – The Birds |date=4 September 2024 |publisher=Creative Community Group |access-date=3 September 2024}}</ref> [[Libor Pešek]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2008/sep/06/northlistings.classicalmusicandopera|title=Pick of the week: North: Classical & opera|date=6 September 2008|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=3 September 2024}}</ref> and [[Vasily Petrenko]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.lep.co.uk/arts-and-culture/royal-salute-for-the-emperor-2663752 |title=Royal salute for The Emperor |date=17 January 2014 |newspaper=The Lancashire Post |access-date=3 September 2024}}</ref> [[Led Zeppelin]] and [[David Bowie]] both performed at the venue in 1973 and [[The Smiths]] in 1986 among others.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lep.co.uk/news/venue-has-hosted-rock-royalty-1-5298359 |title=Venue has hosted rock royalty|publisher=[[Lancashire Evening Post]]|date= 10 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223050655/https://www.lep.co.uk/news/venue-has-hosted-rock-royalty-1-5298359|access-date=15 November 2020|archive-date=2018-02-23}}</ref> [[Bing Crosby]] gave one of his last concerts at the Guild Hall in September 1977, less than a month before his death.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moon |first=Naomi |date=2020-09-14 |title=When Bing Crosby came to Preston... |url=https://www.lep.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/retro/when-bing-crosby-came-to-preston-2970815 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Lancashire Evening Post |language=en}}</ref> It also hosted the [[UK Championship|UK Snooker Championship]] for the years 1978 to 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theprestonhub.co.uk/2019/06/08/goodbye-guildhall-a-look-through-time/|title=Goodbye Guildhall: A look through time|date=8 June 2019|publisher=Preston Hub|access-date=27 August 2019}}</ref>
In 2013, [[Preston City Council]] considered demolishing the venue due to high running costs,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-20985235 |title=Preston Guild Hall could be bulldozed|publisher=BBC News|date=11 January 2013| access-date= 24 October 2014}}</ref> but instead sold it in 2014 to local businessman [[Simon Rigby]] for an undisclosed sum,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-28112289 |title=Preston Guild Hall sold to businessman Simon Rigby|publisher=BBC News|date=5 July 2014|access-date= 24 October 2014}}</ref> later revealed to be £1.<ref name="Musgrove">{{Cite web |last=Musgrove |first=Catherine |date=2020-08-27 |title=Simon Rigby: the 'Preston-mad' businessman who bought - then lost - the Guild Hall |url=https://www.lep.co.uk/business/simon-rigby-the-preston-mad-businessman-who-bought-then-lost-the-guild-hall-2954508 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Lancashire Evening Post |language=en}}</ref> In return Rigby promised to spend £1m in renovations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Preston Guild Hall • Preston Guild Hall & Charter Theatre |url=https://prestonguildhall.co.uk/about/ |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Preston Guild Hall & Charter Theatre |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2 July 2014 |title=Preston's Guild Hall saved |url=http://www.lep.co.uk/what-s-on/music/preston-s-guild-hall-saved-1-6705526 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707073823/https://www.lep.co.uk/what-s-on/music/preston-s-guild-hall-saved-1-6705526 |archive-date=7 July 2014 |access-date=24 October 2014 |publisher=Lancashire Evening Post}}</ref> Ongoing financial problems saw Rigby close the venue in May 2019 and he was forced to place the business into administration.<ref name="Musgrove"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-48457514|title=Preston Guild Hall staff laid off as owner closes venue|date=30 May 2019|publisher=BBC|access-date=22 August 2020}}</ref> Preston City Council, one of the company's creditors,<ref name="Titley">{{Cite web |last=Titley |first=Megan |date=2019-08-19 |title=Strip show debt is catalyst for Preston Guild Hall tipping into administration |url=https://www.lep.co.uk/news/people/strip-show-debt-is-catalyst-for-preston-guild-hall-tipping-into-administration-664365 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Lancashire Evening Post |language=en}}</ref> subsequently reclaimed possession of the building, citing "significant breaches" in the lease agreement and the "unacceptable behaviour" of Rigby's attempt to transfer ownership to a charity of which he was a trustee.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lancashire-48703556|title=Council reclaims troubled Guild Hall |publisher=BBC News |date=21 June 2019|access-date=8 July 2019|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Titley |first=Megan |date=2019-06-20 |title=City council steps in to take control of Preston Guild Hall citing Simon Rigby’s ‘unacceptable behaviour’ |url=https://www.lep.co.uk/news/politics/city-council-steps-in-to-take-control-of-preston-guild-hall-citing-simon-rigbys-unacceptable-behaviour-665990 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Lancashire Evening Post |language=en}}</ref>
The building was due to host the Business Expo in April 2020 but this event had to be cancelled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/how-major-preston-developments-progressed-18244937|title=How major Preston developments have progressed during lockdown|date=13 May 2020|publisher=Lancs Live|access-date=22 August 2020}}</ref> The Guild Hall was set to reopen in November 2023 but this was delayed until March 2024 due to concerns over the use of [[Autoclaved aerated concrete|aerated concrete]] on the site.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Guild Hall closed pending surveys amid national roofing fears |url=https://www.guildhallpreston.co.uk/news/guildhallclosedpendingsurveysamidnationalroofingfears |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231223135754/https://www.guildhallpreston.co.uk/news/guildhallclosedpendingsurveysamidnationalroofingfears |archive-date=23 December 2023 |access-date=2023-12-23 |website=The Guild Hall Preston |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-10 |title=Preston Weekender delayed due to RAAC: new date and more event plans, including line-up, confirmed |url=https://www.lep.co.uk/news/people/preston-weekender-delayed-due-to-raac-new-date-and-more-event-plans-including-line-up-confirmed-4405654 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Lancashire Evening Post |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Coord|53.7596|-2.6975|format=dms|type:landmark|display=title}}
{{City of Preston buildings}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Music venues in Lancashire]] [[Category:Snooker venues]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Preston, Lancashire]] [[Category:Theatres in Lancashire]] [[Category:Wrestling venues in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Badminton venues]]