A Christmas tradition won’t be taking place in Preston this year.

The demise of Preston Guild Hall means there will be no panto at the venue for the city.

The venue was closed on May 30 by Simon Rigby, who had been operating the Guild Hall, and it faces an uncertain future as a venue.

Preston City Council are back in full control of the building but the venue remains mothballed as they search for a new operator after Preston Guild Hall Ltd went into administration.

A spokeswoman for the city council said: “Sadly the council is not in a position to produce or host a pantomime production and so, for 2019, Preston Guild Hall will not be home to a pantomime.

“We share the public’s disappointment with this and continue to work hard behind the scenes to secure a strong and positive future for the venue.”

Read more: What we know so far about the Guild Hall and the financial situation

The Guild Hall had previously put on pantos in-house, with last year’s production being Cinderella.

Panto would normally run from the first week of December through until the first week of January.

Preston Playhouse Theatre will host the city’s only panto with Dick Whittington being performed by Preston Musical Comedy Society from Thursday December 12 to Sunday December 22. Tickets will be available from 1 October.

Or for panto lovers, and many schools, with a trip to Blackburn, Blackpool or elsewhere.

Here are the pantos confirmed in Lancashire or nearby so far for 2019:

Aladdin – Bolton Albert Halls
Aladdin – Blackburn Empire Theatre
Aladdin – The Grand, Lancaster
Peter Pan – The Grand, Blackpool
Cinderella – King George’s Hall, Blackburn
Beauty and The Beast: A Timeless Tale on Ice – Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Aladdin – Lowther Pavilion Theatre, Lytham St Annes
Jack And The Beanstalk – Pendle Hippodrome Theatre, Colne
Cinderella – Marine Hall, Fleetwood

Read more: See what’s on in Preston