Major upgrade for historic hall

Capacity at Glossop’s landmark Victoria Hall is set to double following funding from the Council. 

Building work starting in the New Year will make Glossop’s Victoria Hall accessible for all users for the first time, allowing for bigger, better, and more inclusive events and activities.  

High Peak Borough Council is committing capital spending of just over £487,500 to support the hall’s development, an amount that is being supplemented with £125,000 funding from the Government’s United Kingdom Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). 

The historic venue, built to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1887, will regain use of its original west entrance/exit on Fauvel Street and get new ground-floor toilets, including disabled facilities, enabling it to double its capacity from 60 to 120 people.  

Contractors for the Council will continue the first phase of refurbishments to Victoria Hall, adding to a recently upgraded kitchen. The ground floor will gain an accessible toilet and new male and female toilets. Reinstating an exit door to the west flank of the main hall will enable better fire-safe exits from the hall. Works to improve the basement are also being planned. 

The hall will re-open to the public in spring 2026.  

Its volunteer management company is now calling for local people who can contribute time or expertise to help run the hall’s vibrant community arts programme and realise its next phase of development - the reopening of the grand and original first-floor theatre and ballroom space. Potential volunteers should contact fovhglossop@outlook.com 

Councillor Damien Greenhalgh, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Regeneration, Tourism and Leisure said: “Victoria Hall is a fantastic community venue, and our community partners the Friends Group do an amazing job organising and coordinating the wide range of activities that take place here. 

“It’s one of Glossop’s most important heritage buildings, and I know from my own happy memories here just how special it is to local people. That’s why I’m delighted the Council is investing in the facilities and amenities, so that it can accommodate more people and more of the events that people so enjoy. 

“We’re safeguarding the future of the building, enabling it to continue to be a place that all the community can use now and for years to come. It’s another project we can be proud of and more good news for our town.” 
 
Sonja Quirk from the CIC said: “The necessary and essential health and safety and accessibility enhancements should allow the Council and Friends to offer inclusive access to the well supported community activities currently enjoyed in the ground floor hall.  

“It is hoped the larger capacity will greatly improve the Glossop offer for larger performance and artistic events in this important local heritage landmark building. 

“This progress and the local demand for good performance space should go a long way to assist our partners’ use of the building. It will also support external funding bids to recognise this unique historic building and help us bring back into use the impressive larger first floor performance space. This area alone will require substantial investment.”