Bedworth Civic Hall

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Bedworth Civic Hall
Civic Hall, Bedworth - geograph.org.uk - 799306.jpg
Hall entrance
Bedworth Civic Hall
AddressHigh Street
Bedworth
England
Coordinates 52°28′44″N1°28′18″W / 52.478773°N 1.471775°W / 52.478773; -1.471775
OwnerBedworth Civic Hall Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
Capacity 763
Current useTheatre
Construction
OpenedSeptember 1973
Renovated2004
ClosedOctober 2022
ReopenedJuly 2024

The Bedworth Civic Hall is a multi-purpose entertainment venue in the town centre of Bedworth, Warwickshire, England.

Contents

The centrepiece of the venue is a 763-seat hall, other facilities included a gallery, meeting rooms, a bistro, a coffee bar and a small hall.

The Civic Hall is now operated by Bedworth Civic Hall Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) which is a community-driven entity committed to fostering communal bonds and enriching local culture through their guiding principle: Creating Community Together.

Following the closure of the Civic Hall in 2020, the venue remained shuttered, with plans emerging for its permanent closure and potential replacement. This development sparked significant concern among the residents of Bedworth and surrounding areas, who valued the Civic Hall as a vital community asset and were alarmed by the prospect of its demolition. In response, the community united in protest, voicing their strong opposition to the proposed plans and advocating for the preservation of the Civic Hall.

Recognising the community’s determination, the Bedworth Civic Hall CIO presented a comprehensive plan to assume responsibility for the venue, placing community interests at the forefront. Their proposal was accepted, and they were entrusted with the leasehold of the Civic Hall.

The CIO was established to oversee the provision, operation, and management of the Bedworth Civic Hall, ensuring it remains a vibrant working theatre and a venue dedicated to serving the community and its surrounding regions.

In May 2024, they received a significant grant from the ACT ONE Community Ownership and Transformation Project, aimed at revitalising the Bedworth Civic Hall and The Community Hub.

The organisation is governed by five Trustees and supported by a dedicated management team responsible for the venue’s day-to-day operations. Crucially, Bedworth Civic Hall is sustained by the invaluable contributions of numerous volunteers. Their unwavering dedication and the generosity of the local community have been instrumental in the charities efforts, culminating in the much-anticipated reopening of the Civic Hall on July 19, 2024.

[1] [2]

History

The facility was opened in September 1973. It was owned and managed by Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council. [3] In 2004, the hall underwent a major refurbishment costing £1.4 million. [1] [2] In 2021, the hall was used as a vaccination centre during the COVID-19 pandemic. [4] In October 2022 the borough council announced that the Civic Hall would close permanently, citing the cost of maintaining the venue, but they stated that it would be redeveloped into a new theatre and library. [5] [6] [7] However in March 2024 it was announced that it would be reopened in phases, after the council transferred the running of the venue to a community-driven organisation, Bedworth Civic Hall Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on a 20 year lease. [8] It was reopened on 19 July 2024. [9]

Notable acts

In 1990, the world famous opera singer Luciano Pavarotti sang here as a rehearsal with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. [10]

Other notable acts to have performed at the venue include Lenny Henry, Billy Ocean, Pam Ayres, Billy Fury, AC/DC, Ken Dodd, Morecambe and Wise, The Drifters, Larry Grayson, Norman Wisdom and Cilla Black. [11]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Civic Hall, Bedworth". Theatres Online. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Civic hall set to close for refurbishment". BBC Coventry and Warwickshire. 15 April 2004. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  3. ↑ "Bedworth Civic Hall". CWN. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  4. ↑ "Bedworth's Covid-19 vaccine hub beats national target as hundreds of jabs given every day". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  5. ↑ "'Much loved' Bedworth Civic Hall to close permanently". BBC News. 3 October 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  6. ↑ Harrison, Claire (3 October 2022). "Bedworth's Civic Hall will never reopen - and could be bulldozed". CoventryLive. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  7. ↑ "'Much loved' Bedworth Civic Hall to close permanently". BBC News. 3 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  8. ↑ "Civic Hall in Bedworth will finally re-open after council lease confirmed". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  9. ↑ "Historic day for Bedworth as cherished venue finally re-opens its doors". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  10. ↑ "Potty over Pavarotti... in Bedworth". Coventry Telegraph. 7 September 2007. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  11. ↑ "BEDWORTH CIVIC HALL". We Love Coventry & Warwickshire. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
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