Entertainment venue plans to reopen this year

Talks between Bedworth Civic Hall CIO and the borough council are under way

A Warwickshire entertainment venue is set to reopen this year, with talks under way to negotiate a new lease.

Bedworth Civic Hall has been shut since October 2022, with a community interest company given the chance to agree a lease last year.

Maintenance work and asbestos removal is being carried out at the theatre, which seats more than 700 people, Bedworth Civic Hall CIO said.

Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council said it was currently negotiating on the draft lease and would provide more details when that was complete.

The venue has been shut since October 2022

A spokesperson for Bedworth Civic Hall CIO said: "We are so excited to see the work we agreed with the council being carried out to make the building safe and able to open up to the public again very soon.

"The civic hall is back on the road to becoming financially sustainable and opening its doors again for the first time since 2022."

A deal could see the group run it for up to 20 years, while the council remains its owner.

The council previously suggested that operating the hall again could cost it a sum of £845,000.

Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council leader Kris Wilson said: “Our legal advisors are currently negotiating on the draft lease with the successful party, in line with the Heads of Terms advertised during the selection process.

“Once a lease agreement has been agreed, we will provide an update to the successful party and residents on the position.”