Part of Preston Guild Hall will continue to operate as a venue well into 2026.

The Guild Lounge, the temporary venue brought back into use in the foyer of the building, is to see its life extended.

While the rest of the Guild Hall venues remain in limbo due to the presence of RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) then Blog Preston can confirm foyer venue is to continue beyond its initial six month operations.

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Preston City Council decided to bring the foyer venue, last used in 2018, back into use in October last year.

Originally starting with a blitz of events the venue has scaled back the number of shows with fewer shows more focused on comedy and family-based theatre shows. A comedy show, The Littles Yak and four drama shows are listed as taking place across March.

Deputy leader and cabinet member for resources, councillor Martyn Rawlinson, said: “Preston City Council is committed to providing an extension of a diverse and exciting Guild Lounge family entertainment programme beyond March for the 25/26 season, plans for which are being currently finalised.

“It is important that we continue to build on the success of the venue so far, encourage new visitors to experience what’s on offer, and promote the venue as a significant leisure destination as an integral part of Preston’s arts and culture offer.”

The Guild Lounge has also begun to host a range of private and civic functions, such as the Mayor’s charity ball and the Place North West’s Lancashire Development update.

While the future of the foyer venue may be secured the Grand Hall and Charter Theatre remain closed – and have done since 2019.

In December it was confirmed the inspections by specialist engineers had been completed and the Town Hall is now bracing for their report to be delivered into how the crumbly concrete present in the roof of both venues can be contained and worked around – and what the potential cost of this will be.

Cllr Rawlinson said: “The presence of RAAC in the Grand Hall and Charter Theatre is a complex one and the final reports undertaken by specialised structural engineers are awaited, which will help us to determine the future of the venue.”

No timescale has been given for when the reports – undertaken by Curtins Consulting Engineers based in Kendal – are due to be delivered to the city council and a decision taken on the Guild Hall’s wider future.

It was taken back into public ownership in 2019, forcibly by the city council, from the late Simon Rigby with the council saying the lease was not being fulfilled. This followed the sale of the building, for £1, to Mr Rigby in 2014.

A legal battle ensued, which after being settled saw plans for the venue to be re-opened and council run again move forward. These were shelved when RAAC was found in September 2023.

The venue is costing more than £1million-a-year to taxpayers while it stands empty, although the operation of the Guild Lounge is likely to begin to chip away at this by bringing in much-needed event revenue and ticket sales to the building.

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