Victoria Theatre - Halifax Future High Streets

Key details

Making a visit to this iconic theatre a more attractive choice. 

We've enhanced this iconic Grade II listed theatre so that more people can enjoy all that this venue has to offer. We’ve improved accessibility, making it easier to get into the theatre, and we've created a café bar; further enhancing the visitor experience . 

Current status

Concept Completed
Development Completed
Construction Completed
Evaluation In Progress

Plans

We've made several improvements to enhance the experience of visitors to The Victoria Theatre, these include:

A new box office

We’ve relocated the box office to Commercial Street. The new box office has its own independent opening hours where people can call or visit in person for tickets and booking information.

Improved access

We’ve installed a lift in the new box office (on Commercial Street) to take visitors with accessibility requirements up to the Circle Level Bar. This is a key milestone in the theatre's history, once operational it will make it easier for people to access and use this area. We've also fitted a platform lift to take visitors from the theatre foyer to the stalls level of the auditorium. 

Café bar

We’ve transformed the foyer (where the former box office was), creating a brand-new café bar. Once open, this will:

  • Create opportunities to hold small and intimate performances.
  • Provide a new food and drink offer.
  • Enhance the experience of visitors to Victoria Theatre.

We have also refurbished the existing stalls bar. 

Accessible toilets

We’ve installed two accessible toilets; one in the new café bar area and one at the Circle Level.

Benefits

Economic Growth

We’re creating opportunities for Halifax high street to grow and thrive. These changes enhance Halifax town centre and aim to increase the number of visitors.

Visitor Economy

These changes will boost Victoria Theatre’s daytime offer and provide theatregoers with the opportunity for pre-show dining.  

Accessibility

We’ve made the theatre more accessible, making it easier for more people to visit and enjoy all that The Victoria Theatre has to offer.

Community

We’ve created a space where people can come together to enjoy food and drink in a wonderful setting.

Culture

We’ve made changes to encourage more diverse audiences and performers to visit this iconic venue.  

Progress

December 2024

Construction work is now complete and the first new space to fully open is the box office, which has relocated to Commercial Street.  For the latest visitor information, see The Victoria Theatre website.

The finishing touches are being carried out to the new café bar and the rest of the new facilities to get them ready for use. This includes final decoration works; the installation of new equipment, including a barista coffee machine for the café/bar; and digital improvements, including Wi-Fi. 

The full opening of the rest of the new facilities, including the lifts, is planned for early 2025. 

October 2024

Improved access takes centre stage as work progresses at The Victoria Theatre. All structural changes are complete and three new lifts have been installed including:

  • a passenger lift between the new box office and circle level;
  • a stairlift at circle level providing access to the Circle Bar;
  • and a platform lift for access between the foyer and the stalls.

Two new accessible toilets have been fitted, one at circle level and one in the new café bar area. These changes will make it easier for people with accessibility requirements to visit the theatre. 

Work to create the new café bar and the box office is underway with plumbing, heating and electrics being installed. Construction is expected to be complete by the end of the year. The theatre will then begin preparations for opening the new spaces and facilities. 

March 2024

Work is progressing to enhance The Victoria Theatre with a key milestone reached. Structural work linking the foyer with the old box office and vacant retail unit to create a new café bar is complete. 

New openings have been created with supporting lintels installed. 

Photograph of one of the new openings with a lintel installed and temporary supports.

December 2023

Morris and Spottiswood have been appointed to carry out the work to enhance Victoria Theatre. Work on site has now started and will initially focus on creating the new box office (formerly the Ivor Burns shoe shop) on Commercial Street.

Victoria Theatre will be open as normal throughout the renovations.

June 2023

Following planning approval, the tender process has begun to appoint a contractor

Funding

Approximate scheme value: £1.80M.

This project was made possible through funding from:

  • Funded by UK Government