Bradford Live in running for renovation award

Bradford Live has been nominated in the Great Renovation category of a new national award.

The £50m music and events venue is up against three others in the inaugural Great British Theatres Awards to be held in London on 2 November.

It was built inside the shell of the city's old Odeon and opened 25 years after the Art Deco building closed its doors to cinema-goers.

Stephen Place, leader of Bradford Council, said: "The transformation of this historic building into a modern entertainment venue is a tremendous achievement, and the whole of Bradford should be proud."

The 3,800-seater venue was restored using public money but is run by Trafalgar Entertainment which leases it from the council and provides a share of the profits.

In its previous guise the building, which opened in 1930, hosted The Beatles and Tom Jones.

A Theatres Trust spokesperson said: "Out of nearly 200 nominations from theatres, cultural organisations and communities across the country, these finalists showcase the breadth and ambition that keep venues and the arts thriving.

"Theatres shortlisted in the Great Renovation category have shown how long-standing venues can be equipped for new generations without losing what makes them special.

"As Theatres Trust mark their 50th anniversary, these new awards are a milestone... to finally acknowledge and celebrate the buildings and advocates that champion the very spaces that facilitate live performance.

"Whether it's through campaigning, sustainable adaptations, or community initiatives."

Campaigners from the Bradford Odeon Rescue Group battled to save the site after it closed in 2000.

In 2013 Bradford Council was able to buy it for just £1.

Initially forecast to cost between £22m and £25m, the renovation was funded by almost £44m from the council.

The rest of the money came from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the government and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

It was billed as a key part of Bradford's plans for its City of Culture year but was mired in controversy after the original operator, NEC Group, pulled out in September 2024.

After a succession of delays it finally reopened in August last year.

The council leader said: "It's fantastic to see Bradford Live shortlisted for a Great British Theatre Award.

"It's brought an important part of Bradford's heritage back to life and is attracting thousands of people into the heart of the city.

"We want to see Bradford Live build on that success and deliver for the Bradford district for many years to come."

The other nominated venues in the category are Arts Theatre, Cambridge, Citizens Theatre, Glasgow and The Granville Theatre, Ramsgate.

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