Rochdale Town Hall reopening: Full details and how to get tickets to see historic landmark on first day

Rochdale Town Hall will finally reopen at the start of next month with a brass band and a whole host of performances and displays.

The stunning Grade-I listed building has stood in the heart of the town since 1871 but has been closed off to the public for the last few years to undergo vital restoration work. A cash injection of £8.9m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund allowed work on the multi-million pound project to commence in 2020. 

Now residents and visitors will finally be able to see the results for themselves when the building opens its doors on Sunday, March 3.

The wait will soon be over for locals and tickets to see the grand unveiling are available for free. The street theatre and outdoor arts specialists, Fool’s Paradise, will be performing at the town hall and the Bombay Raja brass band will bring high energy Bollywood music to the event.

A number of the historic features the building is so well known for, including the decorative ceiling panels and angels in the Great Hall, the Magna Carta mural, the extensive stained glass, painted surfaces and stonework have been painstakingly restored and cleaned. Visitors will also notice new spaces that have been created in rooms which were formerly used by council staff and councillors. 

One of these is the new Bright Hall. The former office space had unsympathetic additions, like mezzanine floors and partition walls, stripped away to reveal the double height ceiling, angels along the walls and a hidden window with views into the Great Hall. 

This space, which includes artwork co-created with the local community, is now open for events and community use. On the ground floor, a former meeting room space now houses a new permanent exhibition, known as the Welcome Gallery, which tells the story of Rochdale, its history and its people. 

Many local residents and community groups have donated pieces to the exhibition space, while volunteers have done extensive archival research to help inform its fascinating content.

Coun Neil Emmott, leader of Rochdale Council, said: “It’s been a long wait for our residents and I’m delighted that they will finally get to see their beautiful town hall, fully restored in all its glory.  Not only will they see the town hall they know and love, looking as good as it would have when it first opened in 1871, but they will see brand new features, like the Welcome Gallery, which makes it an even better space than it was before. We can’t wait to welcome people back in.”

Coun Janet Emsley, cabinet member with responsibility for Rochdale Town Hall, added: “Sunday, March 3 will be a wonderful celebration, but it’s really just the beginning for our brand new town hall. Our new offer means that residents will be able to see it and enjoy it seven days a week. 

“We will soon be offering guided tours, alongside a full activity, events and education programme, which will be revealed soon. We anticipate the opening day being very busy, so people who would prefer a quieter experience may wish to come along another day.  This beautiful building certainly isn’t going anywhere and our new extended opening hours offer many opportunities to enjoy this special place.”

People are advised to pre-book their free tickets for the opening day, but walk-ins will also be welcome. To ensure a comfortable experience for everybody, visitors will be given a one hour, 15 minute time slot.

The town hall’s new restaurant, The Martlet Kitchen, will be opening later in the year, but a pop-up dining offer will be available on the day, for people to enjoy casual lunches, alongside hot and cold drinks in the Zodiac Bar, with additional seating in the Bright Hall. The grand reopening will take place on Sunday March 3, with the doors opening at 10am to the sounds of the Music Service Fanfare.