A MAJOR update has been released over plans to reopen a popular community venue in Thornbury.

The Armstrong Hall complex in Chapel Street, including Armstrong Hall and Cossham Hall, closed four years ago during the pandemic due to “ongoing costs”.

The much-loved site was a hub for theatre and community groups with a wide range of performances, productions and activities taking place.

Since then, many groups have had to relocate outside of the town or to smaller venues within the area.

The Armstrong Hall Trust, which owns and manages the halls, has now announced it is planning to refurbish both Armstrong Hall and Cossham Hall.

Chair James Murray says the trust is planning to reinstate the facility as “quickly” and as “effectively” as possible. 

It comes after a year-long investigation by the trust where public meetings were held in December 2023 and July 2024. 

“We are confident that the chosen option will provide the best facility for the town, in the shortest space of time,” Mr Murray said. 

“The next step involves the trust completing due diligence, ensuring that it will not only be affordable but comply with modern legislation, be fully accessible and have appropriate safeguarding facilities and procedures in place. 

“Once this due diligence is complete, our hope is to sign a lease with a user group led charitable organisation who can take the facility to new heights.”

The Armstrong Hall complex in Chapel Street, includes Armstrong Hall and Cossham Hall (Image: Armstrong Hall Action Alliance)

Two other options were previously put forward by the trust including selling the Armstrong Hall site and building a new venue on land next to the Turnberries in Bath Road.

Meanwhile, another option included demolishing and then carrying out a complete rebuild of Armstrong Hall while leaving Cossham Hall and the museum untouched.

Mr Murray added: “We are fortunate to have been promised a generous donation to the tune of £350,000 to help facilitate this phase of work. 

“This money, alongside previously raised donations and the sale of a small trust asset means that we are in a good place to bring the tired building back into community use. 

“We remain confident that a Turnberries based theatre would have been a viable facility for the town and it will remain a strong ‘plan B’ if the next few months do not go as hoped. 

“As chair, I would like to thank not only the user group representatives involved in the process but the trust members for their hard work. 

“As a town councillor, you immediately become an Armstrong Hall Trust member, sometimes without a great deal of previous knowledge. 

“The hundreds of hours they have  given to this role over the last year should not go unnoticed and deserve great thanks. 

“We look forward to reinstating a much missed arts facility in the town as quickly and as effectively as possible.”