The Guild Hall is now in Simon Rigby’s ownership

Preston Guild Hall will be enjoyed by more people than ever after permission was granted to increase the capacity to 2900.

A launch event promoting the February to June 2015 season also revealed that the venue has a civil ceremony license, with the first wedding already booked for May.

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Richard Simkin, head of operations for the Guild Hall said: “We are aware that Preston Guild Hall is an extremely important part of local heritage, which is why we feel it is important to share each step of our journey as we aim to bring back is former glory as a top Lancashire entertainment hub.”

The venue is confident it can be more competitive against the larger venues from nearby cities in the north. Rick Astley, Midge Ure and Sir Bob Geldof have been lined up, with much more in the pipeline.

Promotions manager, Susan Burns, said: “This magnificent building had fallen off the radar for the big names who would often just visit Liverpool or Manchester.

“In the past we have had some big names here and although we can’t even match the Manchester or Echo Arenas capacity-wise, we will be able to match them in terms of what we bring here.”

Although such big names coming to the city is undoubtedly a positive thing, it is unlikely to satisfy younger fans who would like to see more modern music showcased in the city.

Further announcements could change that.

The Guild Hall is currently undergoing a rejuvenation thanks to the investment of new owner Simon Rigby.

New restaurants have opened at the site along with the new shows that are slowly being announced.