Bradford Live Reaches Major Milestone

Bradford Council and Bradford Live have announced the ‘practical completion’ of construction work at the new Bradford Live venue.

The major building work at the former Odeon cinema in Bradford city centre has been finished, and the site is now ready for the final fit-out.

After being vacant for around 20 years, the art deco building, originally opened in 1930, has been magnificently restored. In the 1950s and ’60s, it hosted music legends including Buddy Holly and The Beatles, who performed the first date of their first UK tour at the venue. The building has now been given a new lease of life after being transformed into a world-class, 3,800-capacity music and entertainment hub.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s portfolio holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, expressed his excitement:

“This is an exciting day for Bradford and a milestone in our ambitious efforts to regenerate the city centre. It has been a joy to watch this much-loved building coming back to life. Not only has an iconic building been saved but it has been given an incredibly exciting new future as one of the region’s best live entertainment venues. Bradford Live will play a crucial role in the regeneration of our city centre, improving Bradford as an entertainment destination, attracting new visitors and offering employment and economic opportunity for our district.” 

Lee Craven, founding director of Bradford Live, highlighted the significance of reaching practical completion:

“Reaching practical completion is a vital milestone in bringing this beloved building back to its former glory. We’ve battled tough challenges for over three years, but the restored venue justifies all the hardship. We’ve worked closely with Bradford Council throughout the works and would like to thank them for their unwavering support and commitment. This investment will serve the city and people of Bradford for decades to come.”

Local construction firm RN Wooler, based in Keighley, led the project on the landmark building on Godwin Street, adjacent to the Alhambra Theatre and opposite City Park. Gareth Wooler, director at RN Wooler, remarked:

“It has been an honour and a privilege to restore this local heritage building. Construction on Bradford Live commenced in 2020; it’s been quite a journey but one which all our colleagues and fellow associates on the design team have relished. There have been many challenges but nothing we collectively haven’t been able to overcome. We would like to thank our incredible team and the wider project personnel for their endeavours in extending the legacy of this Bradford icon.”

The cost of the scheme came to £50.5 million, with £43.75 million provided by the council and the remainder from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The legal processes relating to handover to the NEC Group will now be progressed.

Bradford Live is poised to rejuvenate Bradford’s cultural scene, offering a premier destination for live entertainment and contributing significantly to the local economy. The future of Bradford’s city centre looks brighter than ever with this iconic venue set to reopen its doors.

Image Credits: Bradford Council