The plans include a new restaurant/bar, a café with outdoor seating, new lifts, a refurbishment work on the theatre, toilets, and function rooms.
This 670-seat theatre offers a varied programme of events including comedy shows, concerts, pantomimes, and theatrical performances.
The Albert Halls are also a popular venue for weddings, banquets and conferences.
Location
The Albert Halls is housed within Bolton’s magnificent Victorian town hall, just a short walk from both the bus and train stations.
There are over 20 car parks in Bolton town centre. Car parks near the Albert Halls include Octagon Theatre (BL1 1TN – 24 hours, multi-storey) and Central Street (BL1 2AB).
History
In the early 1860s Bolton Council ran a competition for the design of a new town hall. The winning architect was William Hill of Leeds who designed a building very similar to Leeds Town Hall.
Construction began in 1866 and was completed in 1873. The building was opened on June 5 1873 by the Prince and Princess of Wales.
On November 14 1981 a fire broke out in the Albert Hall. Its heavy doors prevented the flames from spreading to the rest of the town hall but the interior of the theatre was completely destroyed. A sad loss was the famous pipe organ, built in 1874 by Gray and Davison of London.
The new Albert Halls complex officially opened in April 1985.
I’ve been going to the Xmas pantomime since I was 4. It’s always a good show. Can’t wait for this year.