Details of a multi-million-pound revamp of one of Norwich's most high-profile buildings have been revealed.
The Halls, in St Andrews Street, is set to benefit from a £3.6m funding deal that will allow renovations to be carried out to transform the 700-year-old St Andrew’s Hall and neighbouring Blackfriars’ Hall.
Norwich City Council, which owns the venue, said the project will transform "this unique city centre heritage asset into a multi-use performance venue for concerts, trade fairs, corporate meetings, film sets and weddings".
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Plans include essential structural works to the medieval friary complex's roof, stained glass windows and secondary glazing.
The venue's facilities will also be upgraded with investment in audio-visual equipment and lighting, a major redesign to improve flow and accessibility, a revamp of the outside space and an enhanced cafe and bar offer.
The Halls will close after its New Year's Day Concert on January 1 and will not reopen until spring 2025.
The city council added the works "will support the wider cultural provision in the city, as well as contributing to the Norwich 2040 Vision of a creative, fair, liveable, connected, and dynamic city".
Plans with the specific details of the changes have now been lodged by the city council and will go before its planning committee at a future date.
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Next year's work has already seen alternate plans made for one of the venue's biggest events, the Norwich Beer Festival.
The grade I listed building has hosted the festival since the 1970s but its organiser, the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), is considering holding it across different pubs in 2024.
The traditional Norwich Open Christmas event is going ahead at The Halls as usual this year on Christmas Day.
However, its organisers have admitted they are unsure what they will do in 2024 amid the work at the venue.
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