Grand Central Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grand Central Hall, Liverpool |
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The Grand Central Hall, Liverpool, viewed from Renshaw Street
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| General information | |
| Location | Liverpool, England |
| Address | 35 Renshaw Street, Liverpool L1 2SF |
| Completed | 1905 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Bradshaw & Gass |
| Other information | |
| Seating capacity | 1300 |
The Grand Central Hall is a famous building located at 35 Renshaw Street in Liverpool, England. Today, it is home to the Liverpool Grand Central Hotel, a large hall, and the Grand Bazaar Food Hall. This historic building is very important, so it is officially protected as a Grade II listed building on the National Heritage List for England. This means it's a special building that should be preserved.
A Journey Through Time
The Grand Central Hall first opened its doors in 1905. It was built as the Central Hall for the Liverpool Wesleyan Mission. It replaced an older building called the Renshaw Street Unitarian Chapel.
The building was designed in a beautiful style called Art Nouveau by architects Bradshaw and Gass from Bolton. When it first opened, it could hold a huge number of people, about 3,576! Besides being a church mission, it was also used as a cinema called the New Century Picture Hall until at least 1944.
From 1933 to 1939, the hall became the temporary home for the famous Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. This happened while their usual home, the Philharmonic Hall, was being rebuilt after a fire.
In 1990, the Methodists sold the Central Hall. The building then underwent major repairs and updates in 1997 and 1998. From late 1998 until about 2000 or 2001, it was known as the Barcelona Bar and nightclub.
After the Quiggins Centre on School Lane closed in 2006, many shops and traders moved into the Grand Central Hall. In early 2007, a new area called Roscoe Hall opened on the first floor, bringing in even more unique shops. By October 2011, a performance space called 'The Dome' was created in the building's domed area. This venue could hold 1,200 people and hosted movies, plays, and music concerts.
What's Inside Today
In 2018, new local business owners took over the Grand Central Hall. They worked hard to update the hall, its basements, and the upper floors. The new Liverpool Grand Central now combines fancy hotels with cool bars, places for live music and events, and even a wedding hall. There's also a big food hall called The Grand Bazaar with many different restaurants.
For a short time in early 2022, the venue had to close due to some financial issues. All events were cancelled during this period.
However, in early 2023, the property reopened as The Dome at Grand Central after big improvements. The building can now hold over 3,500 people! These updates included new sound systems, better lighting, improved facilities for visitors, new air conditioning, and upgraded stage equipment.
