A new operator for the Bradford Live venue has finally been announced after a “challenging” 12 months that saw the original operators pull out.
The new operators say they aim to have the venue open by this Autumn.
Trafalgar Entertainment, which runs 21 venues across the world the Olympia Theatre in London and the Theatre Royal Sydney in Australia, will now take on the city centre venue.
The £50m venue, the former Odeon cinema and Gaumont before that, was due to open as a live music venue last year.
But in a shock announcement in September, operators NEC pulled out of the venue, saying it would be “better served by an alternative operator.”
The decision left Bradford Council searching for a new operator for what is seen as the biggest regeneration scheme in the city centre.
On Monday afternoon the Council announced that after the completion of a competitive tender process, global live entertainment company Trafalgar Entertainment had been named as the new operator.
Sir Howard Panter, co-founder of the company, said their immediate priority was “supporting and promoting Bradford as the UK City of Culture 2025.”
And Lee Craven, founder of Bradford Live, said the venue would be “Bradford’s gift to itself.”
Founded by Sir Howard and Dame Rosemary Squire in 2017, Trafalgar Entertainment is an award winning global live-entertainment business focussed on new productions, venue operations, live music and comedy, events and hospitality, Performing Arts education, ticketing, the distribution and filming of live event cinema and TV live-streaming (from David Tennant in Macbeth to Taylor Swift).
The company will now begin the final fit out of Bradford Live to their specifications and work to develop and launch a programme of live events.
It is expected that the venue will be open by Autumn, and Trafalgar has also been in discussion with Bradford Culture Company to agree how the venue can play a role in Bradford’s UK City of Culture programme this year.
The venue will have capacity for 3,000 people seated or 3,500 people standing in the main auditorium as well as other event spaces.
Built in the 1930s, the building closed as a cinema in 2000, and has stood empty ever since.
After being saved from demolition it has been fully restored, although the £50m cost has been much higher than the original budget of around £25m.
The announcement from the Council says: “Trafalgar’s ambitious plans for the venue include full use of all the beautifully restored and reimagined spaces, to include – alongside the best in live music, comedy and other live entertainment – conferences, exhibitions, events, weddings, graduations and banqueting events.”
Sir Howard, Joint CEO, Co-founder, and Creative Director at Trafalgar Entertainment, said: “Lee Craven, the team at Bradford Live and Bradford Council have transformed this glorious landmark venue into a modern and truly world-class destination, whilst honouring and preserving its stunning Art Deco heritage.
“Bradford is already a thriving, cultural destination, but as the UK’s City of Culture for 2025, Bradford has an even greater future ahead, and we’re excited to be a part of that journey with Bradford Live.
“Our immediate priorities include supporting and promoting Bradford as the UK City of Culture 2025 – and engaging with the Bradford 2025 team to deliver an exemplary programme of events during what is a milestone year for the city.
“The sheer scope and scale of Bradford Live gives us a fantastic opportunity to bring the best premium programming, enabling us to host a huge range of shows from the biggest live-music events and comedy to large-scale entertainment of all kinds and from some of the world’s biggest stars.”
Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council said: “I am delighted to be able to make this announcement and welcome Trafalgar Entertainment to Bradford.
“After the challenges of the last 12 months, we can now look forward to seeing this iconic part of Bradford’s history open and playing a big part in Bradford’s future. The venue will be fully open in Autumn this year, and playing a part in our UK City of Culture celebrations prior to that as promised.
“Not only will the cultural events bring entertainment and enjoyment to the many, many people who will visit Bradford Live in the coming years, but also the investment we’ve made here will boost the local economy, and support the businesses of the District for years to come too.”
Helen Enright, CEO Trafalgar Venues, added: “Our vision for Bradford Live is for the venue to be a hub for live touring artists, comedians, and bands, creating lifelong memorable moments for local fans. Our programming team will call upon their relationships with some of the UK’s biggest promoters, and their expertise in programming a broad range of shows, to make Bradford Live the ‘go to’ destination in the region.
“We also plan to use the venue’s secondary spaces – which are extraordinary – to host events, activities, conferences, weddings and parties, complemented by our first-class, event-planning, dining and hospitality services.”
Dan Bates, Executive Director of Bradford 2025 said: “Bradford Live is a much-loved and iconic venue, rich in history and cherished by countless Bradfordians, so it’s incredibly exciting to see a respected and established company like Trafalgar Entertainment appointed as the new operators. Their expertise and track record in delivering world-class entertainment make them the ideal organisation to help shape the future of this iconic venue.
“We’re really excited to collaborate with them on events during 2025 and ensure the venue plays a huge role in building an unprecedented legacy from Bradford’s time as UK City of Culture.”
Lee Craven, Founding Director of Bradford Live said: “Trafalgar Entertainment is the perfect fit for this venue, and we’re delighted at their appointment.
“Bradford Live and Bradford Council have together brought this wonderful building back to life. It will act as a catalyst for regeneration. And when the people of Bradford finally get to see a show here, they will realise what a jewel they have.
“This beautifully restored venue is Bradford’s present to itself.”
By: Chris Young, LDRS
