Operator found to take over historic music venue
BBCAn operator has been chosen to take over a council-owned venue where The Beatles once played.
Salisbury's City Hall, which was south Wiltshire's largest concert venue, closed in January 2023.
The last show held in the building was before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Leader of Wiltshire Council, Richard Clewer said it had been a priority to reopen City Hall as a live entertainment venue in a "long-term sustainable way".
The announcement comes after the council hired a specialist company to market the venue on its behalf.
The name of the operator cannot be revealed until terms and a lease are agreed. But the council's cabinet have approved £300,000 of funding to make improvements to the outside of the building.
Richard Clewer, said: "Finding that partner who is able to commit to a long-term sustainable solution that doesn't rely on council funding was the main aim and to make sure city hall can open before a new tenant can move in.
"I'm really pleased that we've got to that point", he said.
"There are definitely still some works that need to be done in order to make sure city hall can open, but from everything I am hearing we are looking at the prospect of work being able to be done in time and for city hall to open this year.
"But that will be in the hands of the new leaseholder."
The council are expected to confirm the name of the new operator in the coming weeks.
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