Chesterfield: Construction starts on £17m theatre and museum revamp

The council hopes the revamp will be complete by the end of 2025

Building work has started on a £17m revamp of Chesterfield's historic Stephenson Memorial Hall.

The Grade II-listed Victorian building, home to the Pomegranate Theatre and museum, is undergoing a major refurbishment.

Chesterfield Borough Council is leading the scheme which will expand the theatre and create a new café bar.

The museum will also be reconfigured and a new entrance built, the council said.

Chesterfield Borough Council has shared an artist's impression of the new-look hall

The building, in St Mary's Gate, closed last year but managers said the next phase of the development had now begun.

They said they hoped the project would be complete by the end of 2025.

Kate Sarvent, the council's cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: "This is a landmark building in our town and a place where generations of Chesterfield residents have created lasting memories.

"This project seeks to protect this building for the future but also enhance the visitor experience which will encourage more people to attend shows and visit our museum."

The funding for the renovation has come from a government £20m levelling up grant to improve the town centre and £695,000 Arts Council England Grant.