York Barbican facts for kids
York Barbican
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| Location | York, England |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 53°57′12.42″N 1°4′27.27″W / 53.9534500°N 1.0742417°W |
| Owner | City of York Council |
| Operator | ASM Global |
| Capacity | 1,900 standing; 1,500 seated |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1991 |
| Renovated | 2011 |
| Website | |
| http://www.yorkbarbican.co.uk | |
York Barbican is a fun indoor place in York, England. It's named after a nearby old gatehouse called a barbican at Walmgate Bar. This venue hosts many exciting events. You can see live music, comedy shows, and sports here. It also holds big meetings and conferences.
The Barbican can fit 1,500 people in seats. If everyone stands, it can hold up to 1,900 people. It's a very important place for the sport of snooker. The Barbican hosts the UK Championship, which is a major snooker tournament. It has been the home of this event since 2001, with a break between 2006 and 2011.
You can find the Barbican at the south end of York city centre. It is right across from the historic city walls.
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History of York Barbican
The building you see today was finished in 1989. It was built by the York Council. Before that, a swimming pool was built on the same spot in 1980. The 1989 project added a sports hall and a large auditorium. It also had a climbing wall, a café, and places to buy drinks.
Even though it was the biggest concert place in York, the Barbican often lost money. The council ran it, but it struggled financially. So, in 2000, the council decided to try and find a private company to manage it. They wanted someone else to take over the swimming pool and the new parts of the building.
By 2003, one company seemed likely to take over. They planned to build new swimming facilities. But some local people formed a group called 'Save Our Barbican'. They did not like the plans and spoke out against them. Later ideas for the site included building apartments or a casino.
By the end of 2004, no plans had been agreed upon. The Barbican was closed down and stayed empty for many years. The old swimming pool building was taken down. The 1989 building started to look worn out and was damaged.
In spring 2011, the Barbican finally opened again. It had been updated with a big renovation. The council still owned it, but a company called ASM Global now manages it. ASM Global is a company that runs venues all over the world.
In 2021, a group of people moved into the empty land where the swimming pool used to be. They called it "Barbican Community Centre." They said they wanted to stop the land from being used for expensive student housing.
Exciting Events at the Barbican
The York Barbican is a popular place for many different events.
Snooker Championships
The venue is famous for hosting the UK Snooker Championship. This is a very important snooker tournament. You can often watch it on the BBC!
Political Gatherings
Political parties sometimes hold their meetings here. The Liberal Democrats, a major political party in the UK, often have their big conferences at the Barbican. In 2019, the Conservative Party also held a special debate here. It was between two politicians, Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson, who were hoping to become the leader of their party.
