Calls to reveal cost of row about historical venue

Opposition councillors have questioned the cost of a row over a historical building's £7.8m regeneration.

The reopening of The Halls in Norwich has been delayed for a year and there has been a dispute over who will run the venue.

Norwich Arts Centre's contract has been scrapped twice, and the city council's Green group said it wanted to know how much the disagreement had cost.

A spokeswoman for the Labour-run authority did not provide a figure but said it had "acted appropriately".

The Halls complex, which dates back to the 14th Century and is made up of St Andrew's and Blackfriars' Hall, is due to reopen next month.

Three years ago, a report warned the building could close unless £2.8m of repairs to the roofs and walls was carried out.

The total cost rose a further £5m, although the council also received £3.6m of funding from the government and £500,000 from Arts Council England.

The Halls closed for a planned 12 months in January 2024 but a number of delays have put the project back.

Alongside that, a three-way row broke out between the Arts Centre, Norwich Theatres and Norwich City Council, over who would run the site.

Ultimately the council said it would take charge and recently confirmed the team behind the Bicycle Shop, a long-running restaurant in St Benedicts Street, would be operating the venue's bar.

But Green councillor Jenny Knight called for the costs of the dispute to be made available.

"I hope the council makes this information public soon for the sake of transparency," she said.

In response, a council spokeswoman insisted it had "acted appropriately throughout and addressed the issues that emerged".

"Our focus has been on ensuring the smooth reopening of the Halls for residents, performers and audiences, and we look forward to welcoming organisations back to the venue this spring," she added.

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