Manchester's Town Hall to close until 2024
Multi-million pound refurbishment
Manchester's Town Hall is to completely close to the public to allow for a £320 million pound refurbishment.
The 'Our Town Hall' project aims to safeguard, repair and restore the building which is more than 140 years old.
Albert Square, which hosts events ranging from Manchester’s world-famous Christmas Markets to more sombre occasions such as vigils, will also be protected and improved.
WATCH: Key 103's Chief Reporter Michelle Livesey takes a look behind the scenes of one of Manchester's most iconic buildings
A special Manchester Town Hall Open Day - giving people a last chance to explore the iconic building before its temporary closure - has been announced for Sunday 14 January 2018.
It comes after dates for behind the scenes tours completely sold out.
Manchester people and visitors are being invited to book a free place on the open day which will include the opportunity to explore the Town Hall’s magnificent state rooms including the famous Great Hall and Bees mosaic. Experts will be on hand to answer questions about its history and there will be a few surprises in store too. The day will end with Lord Mayor of Manchester Councillor Eddy Newman formally handing the building over to the care of the project team.
Attendance is free but will be on a ticketed basis to manage numbers and help visitors have the best experience. Visit: tinyurl.com/ManchesterTownHallOpenDay to book.
Councillor Bernard Priest, Deputy leader of Manchester City Council, said:
“The Town Hall is a symbol of Mancunian pride and one of the finest examples of Victorian architecture in the land.
“We’ve had phenomenal interest in tours of the building and this open day, offering a last chance for quite a while to experience its heritage, promises to be a memorable occasion. I’d encourage anyone who is interested to snap up a free ticket as soon as possible.
“When the Town Hall re-opens were are determined to ensure it is more of a visitor destination and that its civic treasures, items which help tell the story of Manchester, are more accessible. This open day should give a flavour of that approach.”
Work to the building will also include improvements to neighbouring Albert Square to enhance its role as a popular events space. The project will also ensure that the Town Hall meets modern access and safety standards and is more energy efficient when it re-opens in 2024