York Barbican

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York Barbican
York, Barbican Centre - geograph.org.uk - 495341.jpg
York Barbican
York Barbican
Location York, England
Coordinates 53°57′12.42″N1°4′27.27″W / 53.9534500°N 1.0742417°W / 53.9534500; -1.0742417 Coordinates: 53°57′12.42″N1°4′27.27″W / 53.9534500°N 1.0742417°W / 53.9534500; -1.0742417
Owner City of York Council
Operator ASM Global
Capacity 1,900 standing; 1,500 seated
Construction
Opened1991
Renovated2011
Website
http://www.yorkbarbican.co.uk

York Barbican is an indoor entertainment venue located in York, England. Named after the nearby barbican attached to Walmgate Bar, the venue hosts a busy calendar of live music, comedy and sports, as well as business events and conferences. It has a 1,500 seating capacity and a 1,900 standing capacity. [1]

Contents

York Barbican is the host venue for the second biggest-ranking snooker tournament, the UK Championship, and has done so from 2001 to 2006, and then from 2011 [2] onwards.

The centre is located on the southern end of York city centre, opposite the city walls. [3]

History

The current facility was built in 1989 at a price of £15 million by York Council, adding to a swimming pool, which had been previously constructed on the site in 1980. [4] The 1989 construction added a sports hall and auditorium, with a climbing wall facility, café and bars. Despite offering the largest concert facility and a wide range of classes and local events (such as the annual York Interschool Battle of the Bands), York Barbican consistently made losses while it was operated by the council, and in 2000, both the swimming pool and new facilities were placed on the market in a bid to pass them on to private management.

By 2003, a single bidder had emerged as the preferred company to develop the site. Proposals to build new swimming facilities were part of the plans. However, a local group of residents, 'Save Our Barbican' (S.O.B.) spearheaded local opposition to the proposals circulated in the public consultation. [5] Later planned developments suggested apartments on the site, or a casino and nightclub facility. By the end of 2004, with no plans accepted and a legal case going forward by the resident group, York Barbican was closed and lay empty for years to come. The swimming pool building was demolished, and the 1989 building began to show signs of weathering and vandalism and closed down.

In spring 2011, it finally reopened after a £1.5 million refurbishment, owned by the council but managed by ASM Global, an international venue operator. [6]

On 19 June 2021, a local group of squatters moved into the demolished swimming pool and reclaimed it as "Barbican Community Centre". [7] They claim they are stopping the land - which has been empty for 15 years - from being developed into expensive student accommodation.

Notable events

The Liberal Democrats regularly hold the Liberal Democrat Conference at the venue. [8]

The venue hosts the UK Snooker Championship, as featured on the BBC.

In 2019, the venue hosted the Conservative Party Hustings, between Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson.

The venue is a popular concert venue with hundreds of events each year.

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The UK Championship is a professional ranking snooker tournament. It is one of snooker's prestigious Triple Crown events, along with the World Championship and the Masters. It is usually held at the Barbican Centre, York. Ronnie O'Sullivan has won the tournament a record seven times, followed by Steve Davis with six titles and Stephen Hendry with five. Mark Allen is the reigning champion, winning his first title in 2022.

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References

  1. ↑ "York Barbican Centre". visityork.org. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  2. ↑ "UK Snooker Championship". Yorkbarbican.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 December 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  3. ↑ "How to find York Barbican". Yorkbarbican.co.uk. Archived from the original on 1 December 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  4. ↑ "Save Our Barbican - history". Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  5. ↑ "Save Our Barbican - history". Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  6. ↑ "About York Barbican". Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  7. ↑ "Barbican Community Centre Instagram" . Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  8. ↑ Roger Mortimore and Andrew Blick, Butler's British Political Facts, Palgrave Macmillan 2018, p. 274 & 275.

https://asmglobal.com/

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