A NEW update has been released over ongoing plans to reopen a beloved 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.

Armstrong Hall Trust, which owns and manages the halls, previously announced this summer it is planning to refurbish both Armstrong Hall and Cossham Hall.

In a joint statement with Thornbury Community and Arts, organisers say they now feel ‘confident’ the centre is now ‘on its way’ to reopening.

However, an official opening date has not yet been revealed.

It comes as it has been reported that £350,000 is due to be donated to the project by Maggie and Steve Lansdown, the billionaire owner of Bristol City and Bristol Bears rugby club.

The Lansdown’s - who now live in Guernsey - are both originally from the Thornbury area having both attended the then Thornbury Grammar School.

The statement reads: “We are pleased to announce a speedy and constructive start to the process of investigating the reopening of the Armstrong Hall Complex.

“The Armstrong Hall was closed during the Covid lockdown in 2020. Being already in need of a costly upgrade, it has remained shut since then.

“The Armstrong Hall Trust undertook an appraisal of options to reintroduce a performance facility to the town.”

Two options, which were previously put forward by the trust, included 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.

Steve Lansdown, who also owns professional basketball team the Bristol Flyers, co-founded financial services firm Hargreaves Lansdown back in 1981.

According to The Sunday Times Rich List, Lansdown’s net worth was worth £1.72 billion in 2019.

As part of the project, the trust held two public meetings in December 2023 and July 2024.

The statement continues: “When a generous donor offered money which would enable restorative work to commence on the Armstrong Hall, the trust decided to work with the Thornbury Community and Arts to progress the refurbishment project, and also the operation of the facility once restored.

“The trust now has a working group of delegates who will ensure that plans for the complex are fully compliant with all current safety regulations, while supporting TCA to achieve these standards.

“In the meantime, TCA is establishing an appropriate organisational structure to manage the planning not only of the short-term building restoration, but also the reopening and operation of the community-led business which will run it for the benefit of the town and surrounding area.

“During this initial investigation and planning stage, it won’t be possible to predict a date for the reopening, as it will depend largely on the work which needs to be done on the buildings.

“A building surveyor has already paid a first visit, and they will propose a process for undertaking a full inspection.

“Both the Trust and TCA feel confident that Thornbury is now on its way to regaining the facilities it needs and deserves.”