The Gregson Centre facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
The Gregson Centre

The Gregson Centre Location in Lancaster
Former names	Gregson Institute
Location	Lancaster, Lancashire, England
Coordinates	54°02′53″N 2°47′28″W / 54.048°N 2.791°W / 54.048; -2.791
Construction
Built	1889
Architect	Paley and Austin

The Gregson Centre in Lancaster, England, is a cool place for arts and community events. It used to be called the Gregson Institute. It's a music venue and a cafe-bar that's known for its good quality drinks. There's even a small cinema inside! A lift makes sure everyone can easily get to all the public areas. It's one of the last medium-sized music spots in the area. A charity called the Gregson Community Association Limited owns it, and a dedicated company, Gregson Centre Ltd, manages it every day.

The Gregson Centre's Story

How it Started

The Gregson Institute was built in 1889. It was created to remember Henry Gregson. His family was quite famous! His brother, Samuel Gregson, was once the Mayor of Lancaster. He also helped start the Natural History Museum. He even helped give the world the word "dinosaur"! Henry Gregson himself became Mayor of Lancaster in 1850.

Money for the building came from many important people. These included James Williamson, who later became a Baron, and the Storey Brothers. The building was designed by a well-known architecture firm, Paley and Austin. Henry also gave money to build the nearby Christ Church. In 1912, a hall was added to the Gregson. It was named "The Bartlett Hall" after the first vicar of Christ Church.

From Coffee House to Community Hub

The building first opened as a "Temperance" place. This meant it was run by "The Lancaster Coffee Company" and did not serve alcohol. Later, Christ Church Primary School used it as their school hall. When the school moved to a new building, the Gregson Institute became empty for several years.

In 1984, a group of people who wanted to help the community came together. They formed a charity called The Freehold Community Association. They bought the building to turn it into a community centre. The charity later changed its name to The Gregson Community Association. In 2006, it officially became The Gregson Community Association Limited.

Saving the Centre

In the early 1990s, the Gregson Centre faced big problems. It was almost out of money. Even with many volunteers working hard, it wasn't enough. The centre lost its entertainment licence in 1993 and couldn't pay its bills. The most important thing was to get the licences back and open the centre again quickly.

The committee decided the centre needed professional help to run it every day. So, Gregson Centre Ltd (GCL) was started by Richard Dow and Graeme Kirk. They loved the centre and wanted to save it. They believed it was a very important part of the community. This is still true today! The new company agreed to work within the charity's goals.

Richard Dow and Graeme Kirk have been involved with the Gregson Centre since 1984. They were part of the committees in the 1980s. They even met and became friends at the Gregson. Both lived nearby and had young families. Graeme was an actor interested in the arts. Richard was a local businessman. Today, Graeme manages the Gregson Centre daily, and Richard handles the money and business side.

Making Improvements

Over the last twenty years, many successful fundraising efforts have taken place. Graeme and Richard led these efforts with the charity's support. For example, they bought the two buildings next to the Gregson. These used to be a chip shop and a shop selling drinks. This allowed them to create a bigger bar area downstairs and an outdoor seating space.

Other improvements included better toilets, baby changing facilities, and disabled access. They also added a new kitchen, staircase, windows, and two new bars. Two meeting rooms upstairs were combined to create a larger space for performances and meetings. They even raised money to build the popular small cinema. Most recently, a lift was installed. This means everyone, including those with disabilities, can easily access all public areas of the building. Both Gregson Centre Ltd and the charity continue to work together. They want to promote and protect the centre for everyone in the community.

The Gregson Centre has received many compliments. The local newspaper, the Lancaster Guardian, even listed it in their "top ten places to visit." They described the Gregson as "exactly what a Community Centre should be."

Artists Who Have Performed at The Gregson Centre

Many talented artists have performed at the Gregson Centre over the years. Here are some of them: