Albert Hall, Manchester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Albert Hall |
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![]() Exterior of venue seen from Peter St (c.2010)
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Former names | Albert Hall and Aston Institute (1910–69) Brannigans (1999–2011) |
Alternative names | Albert Mission Hall |
General information | |
Architectural style | Neo-Baroque |
Location | Manchester city centre |
Address | 27 Peter Street Manchester M2 5QR England |
Groundbreaking | 1908 |
Opened | 1910 |
Renovated | 2012–14 |
Closed | July 1969 | —March 1999
Cost | £55,000 ($4.12 million in 2021 dollars ) |
Renovation cost | £3.5 million |
Owner | Mission Mars |
Design and construction | |
Architect | W. J. Morley |
Main contractor | J. Gerrard and Sons |
Designations | |
Listed Building – Grade II
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Official name: Albert Memorial Hall | |
Designated: | 29 April 1982 |
Reference #: | 1246727 |
Other information | |
Seating capacity | 2,290 |
The Albert Hall is a super cool music venue located in Manchester, England. It's a historic building that has been used for many different things over the years.
It was first built in 1908 by architect William James Morley as a big meeting place for the Methodist church. This means it was a central hall for their community activities and worship. The building was constructed by J. Gerrard & Sons Ltd. Because of its special design and history, it's now a Grade II listed building. This means it's officially recognized as an important historic place that needs to be protected.
From 1999 to 2011, the main floor of the Albert Hall was used as a nightclub. But the second floor, called the Chapel Hall, had not been used since 1969. In 2012, work began to fix up this part of the building. By 2014, it was ready to host music concerts again!
The venue started holding a few events in late 2013. It officially reopened on February 6, 2014, with a performance by the musician Anna Calvi.
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What Makes Albert Hall Special?
The Albert Hall was designed in a unique mix of styles, combining elements from Baroque and Gothic buildings. It was built for the Wesleyan Mission, a part of the Methodist church.
The main meeting hall is on the first floor. It has a special horseshoe-shaped balcony, a floor that slopes down, and colorful glass panels in the roof. The outside of the building uses finely detailed terracotta (a type of baked clay) to create large windows on the balcony level. Inside, you'll find lots of beautiful flower designs in the plasterwork and on the glazed tiles.
Albert Hall's Journey Through Time
In the 1990s, the bottom two floors of the Albert Hall were changed into a nightclub called Brannigans. This nightclub closed down in 2011.
After that, a local company called Trof, which runs bars and live music venues, took over the hall. They refurbished it, meaning they fixed it up and made it new again. The Albert Hall then reopened in 2013 as the fantastic music venue we know today!
Albert Hall and the 2017 Election Debate
On June 6, 2017, the Albert Hall hosted a special event called BBC Newsbeat Debates: The Final Debate. This debate happened just two days before the UK General Election.
The debate was led by Tina Daheley, who asked questions from the audience to several important people. These included Jonathan Bartley, Sarah Champion, Elin Fflur, Kate Forbes, David Kurten, Brian Paddick, and Nadhim Zahawi. It was a chance for young people to hear from different politicians before they voted.