Edinburgh's historic Queen's Hall secures £240,000 lifeline for revamp to help it reopen

One of Edinburgh’s best-loved concert venues has been handed a £240,000 lifeline to help it reopen once Covid-19 restrictions on live events are lifted.
The Queen's Hall celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2019.The Queen's Hall celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2019.
The Queen's Hall celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2019.

Government agency Historic Environment Scotland (HES) will pay for the Queen’s Hall in Edinburgh to overhaul foyer areas and toilet facilities over the next few months.

The work is said to be essential to ensure the venue, which normally has a capacity of 900, is able to operate while social distancing restrictions are still needed.

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Less than half that number are expected to be allowed to attend the first shows when the venue eventually reopens.

Extra space will be created in the venue’s main corridor all the way between the front of the building to the bar.

The work, which will see the creation of a one-way system, is expected to make it easier to access the main auditorium.

The Queen’s Hall has secured a share of £1.9 million worth of funding for more than 40 historic sites to help them recover from the impact of the pandemic.

It is the third tranche of lifeline funding awarded to the venue after the Scottish Government and its arts agency, Creative Scotland, agreed £245,000 worth of support last year.

Work to revamp the Queen's Hall is expected to be completed by May of this year.Work to revamp the Queen's Hall is expected to be completed by May of this year.
Work to revamp the Queen's Hall is expected to be completed by May of this year.

Nearly £1 million was previously spent on a two-year revamp of the building funded by the government and HES, which was completed in 2019.

The Queen’s Hall, which opened in 1979 after the conversion of a Georgian church building, has become firmly established as one of Edinburgh’s most important performing arts centres.

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Nina Simone, Nick Cave, David Byrne, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Nicola Benedetti, Pulp and Blur have graced the stage of the venue, which is used every year during the Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe.

Other musical acts to perform there over the years include The Pixies, Jools Holland, Adele, Nigel Kennedy, Tori Amos, Sigur Ros, Marianne Faithfull and The Waterboys.

The Queen's Hall, which has been running since 1979, will have a new look when it reopens.The Queen's Hall, which has been running since 1979, will have a new look when it reopens.
The Queen's Hall, which has been running since 1979, will have a new look when it reopens.

Tim Minchin, Ben Elton, Frankie Boyle, Bill Hicks, Johnny Vegas and Lenny Henry are among the comics who have appeared.

Nigel Griffiths, chair of the Queen’s Hall board, said: “As custodians of an A-listed building it is our duty to ensure its longevity and viability for future generations.

“The pandemic has had a devastating impact across our sector, especially for musicians and freelancers who rely on performance for their livelihood.

"Alongside much-needed support for loss of income from Creative Scotland, and the Job Retention Scheme allowing us to pay staff, this funding means that the Queen’s Hall can reopen for musicians when restrictions allow, with facilities audiences expect in a 21st century venue.

The changes to the Queen's Hall will allow it to reopen while social distancing is having to be enforced.The changes to the Queen's Hall will allow it to reopen while social distancing is having to be enforced.
The changes to the Queen's Hall will allow it to reopen while social distancing is having to be enforced.

"We’ve played an important role in live music in Edinburgh for over 40 years and will continue to provide a much-needed and beloved home for Scottish and international artists to showcase their talent.”

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HES chief executive Alex Paterson said: “The historic environment sector provides countless benefits to local communities – including providing jobs and generating tourism spend - and it is vital that we support these organisations and ensure their important work can continue as we face the challenges of the pandemic and seek to harness opportunities ahead.”

Culture secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “Our historic environment plays a crucial role in defining who we are as a nation, supporting wellbeing and sustainability within communities and promoting a positive image of Scotland across the world.”

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