New digital images show how Wolverhampton Civic Halls could look once refurbishment is complete

Before contractors Willmott Dixon Interiors had to suspend work due to the pandemic, the Civic and Wulfrun Halls had been initially scheduled to reopen in autumn 2021, with costs reaching a total of £38.1 million earlier this year. It is now due to open in 2022

The council this week released two new artist's impressions of how the interiors of the Grade II-listed halls, which were built in 1938, will look once work is completed.

A new second balcony is being built around the three sides of the Civic Hall facing the stage, and a new balcony will also be installed in the smaller Wulfrun Hall.

Since the venue closed for improvements several years ago, the project has met with numerous delays and rising costs, with the new images prompting a fresh wave of reactions from the public.

Posting on the council’s Wolverhampton Today Facebook page, Marcia Reid said: “The Civic Hall has missed out on so much. People have had to travel out to see shows. This is taking too long.”

Alex Shields added: “Once one of the best venues in the country for acoustics, really hope all this work doesn’t change that.”

Other posts included one from George Marston, who said: “This should have been replaced with a new up-to-date building so we could compete with other cities in the country, not some old refurbishment that doesn’t cope for the people.”

Councillor Stephen Simkins, the council’s cabinet member economy, said: “We are creating a truly outstanding venue at the heart of the city centre.

“The works respect the great history of the Civic Halls while enhancing them to provide the very best user experience. and ensure it reopens and remains a top-class venue in the future, enabling citizens to enjoy it for many decades to come.

“The halls will also bring in millions of pounds to our local economy and safeguard hundreds of jobs, which is more important than ever as we look to relight our city after being hit hard by Covid-19.”

As part of the work, the height above the stage to the rear of the Civic Hall is being increased in order to attract and accommodate bigger shows.

There will also be wider and more comfortable seats, bigger bars, revamped toilet facilities, lift access to the new balconies, better access for disabled visitors and a new air conditioning system.

Councillor Paul Birch, founder and owner of Wolverhampton’s Revolver Records, added: “Wolverhampton Civic Hall has been one of the most successful authority-owned venues in the UK.

“This is largely due to the experience of its former director, who together with his team booked artists early in their careers and took advantage of ‘buying cheap and selling dear’ maximising profits for the authority.

“The smart thing to do with the Civic Hall would be to bring in a sponsor like Virgin, Barclaycard, Genting or Vodafone to make an endowment and change the name to The EE or O2 Civic Hall etc.

“Whatever the authority decide, they should ditch expensive consultants and start listening to what those of us who care have to say. I think the halls should remain in authority control and both the Wulfrun and Civic untethered and marketed separately.

“I’ve also suggested to the authority that they should take back the magistrates court and turn it into a 4* star hotel with a conference centre.

“The same thing needs to happen to the old Beatties building. City centre 4* hotels and conference centres are the key to revitalising the city’s night-time economy.”