Grand Central Hall

This article is about a building in Liverpool. For similarly named buildings, see Central Hall. For the student halls of residence also in Liverpool, England, see Unite Grand Central.

Grand Central Hall, Liverpool
The Grand Central Hall, Liverpool, viewed from Renshaw Street
Map
General information
LocationLiverpool, England
Address35 Renshaw Street, Liverpool L1 2SF
Completed1905
Design and construction
Architect(s)Bradshaw & Gass
Other information
Seating capacity1300
Website
https://thedomeliverpool.com

The Grand Central Hall is on 35 Renshaw Street, Liverpool, England. It is now the site of the Liverpool Grand Central Hotel, Hall and Grand Bazaar Food Hall.[1] The building is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.[2]

History

Grand Central Hall was opened in 1905 as the Central Hall of the Liverpool Wesleyan Mission,[3] replacing Renshaw Street Unitarian Chapel.[citation needed] Built to an Art Nouveau design by Bradshaw and Gass of Bolton,[3] the new building had a capacity of 3,576 people,[citation needed] and was also used from its opening until at least 1944 as the New Century Picture Hall cinema.[4] From 1933 to 1939 the hall was the home of the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra while the Philharmonic Hall was rebuilt following a fire.[5]

In 1990 the Methodists sold Central Hall. Major restoration work was undertaken in 1997/98 and from November 1998[citation needed] to around 2000 or 2001 the building became the Barcelona Bar and nightclub.[6]

After the closure of the Quiggins Centre on School Lane in 2006, a dozen of the 30 plus traders relocated to the Grand Central Hall whilst others moved on to and around Bold Street or dissolved themselves. In early 2007, Roscoe Hall on the first floor opened with many new and diverse shops. In October 2011 a performance area opened in the domed area.[7] Known as 'The Dome', the venue has a capacity of 1,200 and was used to host film, theatre and music events.[8]

Current use

In 2018 Grand Central Hall was taken over by local business owners, who redeveloped the Hall, basements and upper floors.[9][10] The New Liverpool Grand Central integrates luxury hotels with boutique bars, live music and event spaces, a wedding hall and an assemblage of restaurants making up the food-hall, The Grand Bazaar.

In early 2022, the lease holders were forced to vacate due to a reported £1.2m outstanding rent.[11] and therefore the venue was shut for a period of time with all events cancelled.

In early 2023, the property was reopened as The Dome at Grand Central after major refurbishments bringing capacity to over 3,500. The refurbishment included renovations to sound systems, lighting, venue amenities, air-conditioning systems, and stage facilities.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Liverpool Grand Central Website". liverpoolgrandcentral.co.uk. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  2. ^ Historic England, "Methodist Central Hall (1072941)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 25 March 2015
  3. ^ a b Pollard, Richard; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2006). The Buildings of England - Lancashire: Liverpool and the south-west. Yale University Press. p. 285.
  4. ^ "Nerve 10 (Spring 2007) 'Grand Central Hall' by Lis Edgar". Archived from the original on 21 August 2007.
  5. ^ Henley, Darren; McKernan, Vincent (2009). The Original Liverpool Sound: The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society. Liverpool University Press. p. 104. ISBN 978-1-84631-224-3.
  6. ^ "Grand Central Hall - History". Archived from the original on 15 October 2007.
  7. ^ "News: Liverpool News". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  8. ^ Lally, Kate (6 October 2017). "We take a look inside Liverpool's beautiful Grand Central Dome". liverpoolecho. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  9. ^ "Grand Central Hall". 19 April 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  10. ^ "The Hotel". 12 March 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  11. ^ "Liverpool city centre venue shuts doors over '£1.2m rent arrears'". 29 March 2022.
  12. ^ "The Dome at Grand Central Hall reopens after major refurbishment". 19 May 2023.

53°24′14″N 2°58′36″W / 53.4040°N 2.9767°W / 53.4040; -2.9767