   |
![]() |
The Royal Hall, with its 1100
seat capacity, fills the gap between Harrogate's small repertory
theatre with its 400 seats and the large specialised Conference
Centre which caters for over 2000. The Royal Hall's excellent
acoustics and proscenium stage make it the natural venue
for dance, music, drama and the many other events which cannot
effectively be accommodated elsewhere in the local area.
From its earliest days, the Royal Hall
has served in a variety of purposes for the people of Harrogate
and the surrounding district. The inherent flexibility of
the kursaal design has meant that the building has had many
uses including theatre, cinema, dance hall; exhibition displays,
wrestling matches opera, broadcast studio, ballet, lecture
theatre and concert hall. This versatility is found in few
other such venues and is a testament to Matcham's design
genius.
As well as having a uniquely important place in the history
of British theatre, the Royal Hall is a building of national
architectural importance. Unsurprisingly, it is Grade II*
listed – making it among the top 6% of all listed buildings
in the country.
Until it had to be closed on safety grounds
in November 2002, the Royal Hall filled a vital role in the
social, economic and cultural life of the whole Harrogate
district as:
- a vital facility for the conference and exhibition trade
which plays such an important part in the local economy
- a cultural and entertainment centre for the whole of
the District. This is a rôle with enormous potential
for the restored Royal Hall
- a wonderfully elegant theatre for performances by local
arts, drama, dance and musical groups. It is a particularly
important venue where children and young people can develop
their individual and collective talents
- Harrogate's 'town hall' where all manner of social and
ceremonial events are held – such as the annual Mayor-making
ceremony, school speech days etc
- the premier location for the prestigious Harrogate International
Festival and the Harrogate International Youth Music Festival
|
