# Preston Guild Hall

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Entertainment venue in Preston, Lancashire, England

Preston Guild Hall Pictured in April 2015 Preston Guild Hall Location in Preston city centre Full name Preston Guild Hall and Charter Theatre Location Preston, Lancashire Coordinates 53°45′35″N 2°41′51″W / 53.75972°N 2.69750°W / 53.75972; -2.69750 Owner Preston City Council Operator Preston Guild Hall Ltd Capacity 2,034 (Grand Hall) 780 (Charter Theatre) 350 (Foyer) Type Concert venue (Grand Hall) Theatre (Charter Theatre) Acreage 1,087 m2 (Grand Hall) 336 m2 (Charter Theatre) 529 m2 (Foyer) Public transit Preston bus station Construction Opened 1973; 53 years ago (1973)

**Preston Guild Hall** is an entertainment venue in [Preston](/source/Preston%2C_Lancashire), [Lancashire](/source/Lancashire), England, which opened in 1973.

## History

The Guild Hall was commissioned to replace the town's [Public Hall](/source/Public_Hall%2C_Preston).[1] The new building, which was designed by [Robert Matthew, Johnson Marshall](/source/RMJM), was due to be ready for the [Preston Guild](/source/Preston_Guild) of 1972, but after construction was delayed, it only officially opened in 1973.[2]

The complex has two performance venues, the Grand Hall which holds 2,034 people and the Charter Theatre which holds 780 people.[3] There is direct pedestrian access, via footbridge, from the adjacent [Preston bus station](/source/Preston_bus_station) and car park.[4]

Artists that have performed at the venue include [Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra](/source/Royal_Liverpool_Philharmonic_Orchestra),[5] [Libor Pešek](/source/Libor_Pe%C5%A1ek)[6] and [Vasily Petrenko](/source/Vasily_Petrenko).[7] [Led Zeppelin](/source/Led_Zeppelin) and [David Bowie](/source/David_Bowie) both performed at the venue in 1973 and [The Smiths](/source/The_Smiths) in 1986 among others.[8] [Bing Crosby](/source/Bing_Crosby) gave one of his last concerts at the Guild Hall in September 1977, less than a month before his death.[9] It also hosted the [UK Snooker Championship](/source/UK_Championship) for the years 1978 to 1997.[10]

In 2013, [Preston City Council](/source/Preston_City_Council) considered demolishing the venue due to high running costs,[11] but instead sold it in 2014 to local businessman [Simon Rigby](/source/Simon_Rigby) for an undisclosed sum,[12] later revealed to be £1.[13] In return Rigby promised to spend £1m in renovations.[14][15] Ongoing financial problems saw Rigby close the venue in May 2019 and he was forced to place the business into administration.[13][16] Preston City Council, one of the company's creditors,[17] 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.[18][19]

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](/source/COVID-19_pandemic).[20] The Guild Hall was set to reopen in November 2023 but this was delayed until March 2024 due to concerns over the use of [aerated concrete](/source/Autoclaved_aerated_concrete) on the site.[21][22]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Music in Preston"](http://www.madeinpreston.co.uk/General/musicinpreston.html). *Made in Preston*. Retrieved 22 August 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Historic Building Record: Preston Guild Hall"](http://publicaccess.preston.gov.uk/swift/apas/run/WCHDISPLAYMEDIA.showImage?theSeqNo=17707&theApnkey=3309&theModule=1). Preston Council. Retrieved 27 August 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["About us"](http://www.prestonguildhall.com/about-the-guild). Preston Guild Hall. Retrieved 24 October 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["History of the Guild Hall Preston"](https://www.guildhallpreston.co.uk/article/7153/History-of-the-Guild-Hall-Preston). The Guildhall, Preston. Retrieved 13 December 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra – The Birds"](https://www.ccguk.org/article/427/Royal-Liverpool-Philharmonic-Orchestra-The-Birds-81017-Preston-Guild-Hall). Creative Community Group. 4 September 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Pick of the week: North: Classical & opera"](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2008/sep/06/northlistings.classicalmusicandopera). *The Guardian*. 6 September 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Royal salute for The Emperor"](https://www.lep.co.uk/arts-and-culture/royal-salute-for-the-emperor-2663752). *The Lancashire Post*. 17 January 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Venue has hosted rock royalty"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180223050655/https://www.lep.co.uk/news/venue-has-hosted-rock-royalty-1-5298359). [Lancashire Evening Post](/source/Lancashire_Evening_Post). 10 January 2013. Archived from [the original](https://www.lep.co.uk/news/venue-has-hosted-rock-royalty-1-5298359) on 23 February 2018. Retrieved 15 November 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Moon, Naomi (14 September 2020). ["When Bing Crosby came to Preston..."](https://www.lep.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/retro/when-bing-crosby-came-to-preston-2970815) *Lancashire Evening Post*. Retrieved 13 December 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Goodbye Guildhall: A look through time"](https://theprestonhub.co.uk/2019/06/08/goodbye-guildhall-a-look-through-time/). Preston Hub. 8 June 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Preston Guild Hall could be bulldozed"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-20985235). BBC News. 11 January 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Preston Guild Hall sold to businessman Simon Rigby"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-28112289). BBC News. 5 July 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Musgrove_13-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Musgrove_13-1) Musgrove, Catherine (27 August 2020). ["Simon Rigby: the 'Preston-mad' businessman who bought - then lost - the Guild Hall"](https://www.lep.co.uk/business/simon-rigby-the-preston-mad-businessman-who-bought-then-lost-the-guild-hall-2954508). *Lancashire Evening Post*. Retrieved 13 December 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["About Preston Guild Hall • Preston Guild Hall & Charter Theatre"](https://prestonguildhall.co.uk/about/). *Preston Guild Hall & Charter Theatre*. Retrieved 13 December 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Preston's Guild Hall saved"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140707073823/https://www.lep.co.uk/what-s-on/music/preston-s-guild-hall-saved-1-6705526). Lancashire Evening Post. 2 July 2014. Archived from [the original](http://www.lep.co.uk/what-s-on/music/preston-s-guild-hall-saved-1-6705526) on 7 July 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Preston Guild Hall staff laid off as owner closes venue"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-48457514). BBC. 30 May 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Titley_17-0)** Titley, Megan (19 August 2019). ["Strip show debt is catalyst for Preston Guild Hall tipping into administration"](https://www.lep.co.uk/news/people/strip-show-debt-is-catalyst-for-preston-guild-hall-tipping-into-administration-664365). *Lancashire Evening Post*. Retrieved 13 December 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Council reclaims troubled Guild Hall"](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lancashire-48703556). BBC News. 21 June 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Titley, Megan (20 June 2019). ["City council steps in to take control of Preston Guild Hall citing Simon Rigby's 'unacceptable behaviour'"](https://www.lep.co.uk/news/politics/city-council-steps-in-to-take-control-of-preston-guild-hall-citing-simon-rigbys-unacceptable-behaviour-665990). *Lancashire Evening Post*. Retrieved 13 December 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["How major Preston developments have progressed during lockdown"](https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/how-major-preston-developments-progressed-18244937). Lancs Live. 13 May 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Guild Hall closed pending surveys amid national roofing fears"](https://web.archive.org/web/20231223135754/https://www.guildhallpreston.co.uk/news/guildhallclosedpendingsurveysamidnationalroofingfears). *The Guild Hall Preston*. Archived from [the original](https://www.guildhallpreston.co.uk/news/guildhallclosedpendingsurveysamidnationalroofingfears) on 23 December 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["Preston Weekender delayed due to RAAC: new date and more event plans, including line-up, confirmed"](https://www.lep.co.uk/news/people/preston-weekender-delayed-due-to-raac-new-date-and-more-event-plans-including-line-up-confirmed-4405654). *Lancashire Evening Post*. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2024.

[53°45′35″N 2°41′51″W / 53.7596°N 2.6975°W / 53.7596; -2.6975](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Preston_Guild_Hall&params=53.7596_N_2.6975_W_type:landmark)

v t e Buildings and structures in the City of Preston Grade I Harris Museum Preston Cenotaph Places of worship Preston: St Walburge Grade II* Arkwright House Avenham Park Miller Park Moor Park Sessions House Places of worship Preston: St George the Martyr St John's Minster St Mark St Peter St Wilfrid Syro-Malabar Cathedral (former St Ignatius) Ashton-on-Ribble: St Michael & All Angels Broughton: St John the Baptist Goosnargh: St Mary the Virgin Woodplumpton: St Anne Grade II Archbishop Temple School Black Horse Chingle Hall Church Cottage Museum Corn Exchange Covered Market Fulwood Barracks (including Lancashire Infantry Museum) The Guild Miller Arcade Museum of Lancashire Penwortham Old Bridge Preston bus station Preston railway station Preston Royal Infirmary Preston Town Hall Ribbleton railway station St Joseph's Orphanage Tulketh Mill Ye Horns Inn Places of worship Preston: All Saints Carey Baptist City Emmanuel English Martyrs Fishergate Baptist Moor Park Methodist Preston Central Methodist St Joseph St Luke St Mary St Paul St Thomas Ashton-on-Ribble: St Andrew Barton: St Lawrence Fernyhalgh: St Mary Grimsargh: St Michael Inglewhite: Congregational Chapel Unlisted County Hall Fishergate Shopping Centre The Green Man at Inglewhite HM Prison Preston Park Hotel The Plough at Eaves Preston Crown Court Preston Guild Hall RAF Barton Hall Royal Preston Hospital St George's Shopping Centre The Warehouse Kimberley Barracks Places of worship Preston: Jamea Masjid St Matthew Fulwood: Christ Church Ribbleton: St Mary Magdalene Derelict or demolished Preston Castle Preston Greyfriars Red Scar Mill Tulketh Hall Tulketh Priory Whittingham Hospital Lists Mills in Preston Tallest in Preston Listed in Barton Broughton Goosnargh Grimsargh Haighton Lea Preston Whittingham Woodplumpton

Authority control databases: Geographic MusicBrainz place

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Preston Guild Hall](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preston_Guild_Hall) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preston_Guild_Hall?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.