YEADON Town Hall will officially come under new management next month.

The 140-year-old building will come under the control of the Yeadon Town Hall Community Interest Company on April 1. The running of the building is being taken over from Leeds City Council.

The new management team is planning a full refurbishment and modernisation, along with a new entertainment programme.

The group will begin to make improvements with the help of money from Key Fund, a Sheffield-based social enterprise investment company, and from Leeds City Council Heritage Fund.

Work will include a major redecoration throughout the building and the refurbishment of the 90-year-old heating system.

Changes to the main auditorium will include increasing the stage depth and adding professional stage flooring. There are also plans to create additional dressing rooms and backstage areas.

The CIC says the improvement work will respect and preserve the building’s heritage. The landmark clock tower and its clock faces will be restored, in addition to major repair work to the roof and exterior walls. The original double height Victorian ceilings and stained glass windows in the bar area will be revealed.

CIC director Jamie Hudson said: “The local community is as passionate as we are about preserving the Town Hall and ensuring it is fit for purpose for many years to come. The refurbishment will take a lot of time, money and dedication but we hope to have the

building restored to its former glory by the end of 2020. In the meantime, wherever possible the building will continue to be functional, providing quality entertainment from across the UK.”

The Town Hall has previously been used as a public baths, council chambers, library, school rooms, cinema and a concert hall. In recent years it has been predominantly used as a theatre and arts venue. Many of its rooms are available for community hire.

Yeadon Town Hall CIC has already planned a variety of one-night entertainment shows, ranging from tribute nights to classical concerts.

Original 2019 shows produced by Yeadon Town Hall and

resident theatre company Futurist Productions include A Night at the Musicals in July, Mr Montgomery’s Circus Spectacular in August and the annual Christmas Spectacular.

The town hall will also introduce the world premiere of The Carole King Songbook in June before the show embarks on a

countrywide tour throughout 2019/20.

The group is hoping to raise an additional £100,000 to contribute to the improvements and it is now asking for help from the community. Local people are being invited to sponsor a plaque on the Town Hall’s Wall of Fame, and the group is also looking for corporate sponsorship.

Visit www.yeadontownhall.co.uk or contact the box office

on 0333 666 33 66.