Concerns are mounting over the potential impact of a new entertainment venue planned for Eastgate Shopping Centre on the financially struggling Gloucester Guildhall.
The ambitious £13.8 million Greyfriars Quarter redevelopment, recently approved by Gloucester City Council leaders, includes a new market, food hall, and a vibrant cultural venue. The council has allocated £4 million for the first phase, promising an eclectic food hall where visitors can eat, drink, and socialize in a relaxed atmosphere.
Central to the development is a 450-seat performance and cultural space, designed to cater to diverse audiences. However, this addition has sparked worries about the effect it might have on the Guildhall, located just across the street.
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Councillor Tree Chambers-Dubus (Labour, Moreland) voiced her apprehensions during the council’s special finance meeting on December 18. While supporting the need for a new market and cultural space, she expressed unease about the financial implications, given that the Guildhall already struggles financially.
She stated, “We’ve already got one cultural space, the Guildhall. It barely breaks even, if at all. They struggle to maintain a program and rely heavily on Arts Council funding. What happens when we have two?”
Chambers-Dubus questioned the sustainability of the new venue amidst the council’s tight finances, emphasizing her concern about the council cycling through similar financial challenges.
Culture and Leisure Cabinet Member Caroline Courtney (Liberal Democrat, Tuffley) acknowledged the difficulties faced by the Guildhall, noting its less visible location, technical limitations, and old infrastructure. She highlighted issues such as limited audience capacity and lack of disabled access that hamper its performance.
“Everyone loves the Guildhall, but it’s not always practical,” Courtney said. “It receives an annual Arts Council grant, and closing it would actually cost more due to required repayment of funding.”
Courtney also pointed out that the Arts Council supports the Greyfriars project’s cultural hub plans, confident it will address existing issues. The new venue promises larger capacity, improved accessibility, and a prime location adjacent to the food hall and market—features expected to draw a bigger, more diverse audience.
She added, “The new space will attract more people who want to spend time there. In contrast, the Guildhall isn’t somewhere people want to spend an evening beyond attending a show, as there’s little else open at night.”
As Gloucester navigates this expansion of its cultural offerings, the challenge remains balancing growth with the sustainability of existing venues like the Guildhall.