Fire closes Derby Assembly Rooms for 18 months

Published: 16 April 2014
Reporter: Steve Orme

Uncertain future: Derby city council may decide to knock down the Assembly Rooms Credit: Steve Orme

Derby’s Assembly Rooms will be closed for a minimum of 18 months because of a serious fire on the roof of the adjoining car park five weeks ago.

The plant room, which housed the venue’s power, heating and air conditioning, was destroyed.

The City Council, which owns the building, has to decide whether to refurbish the 36-year-old venue or knock it down.

Scores of shows have had to be called off. The authority is trying to find alternative venues to host those events.

Council chief executive Adam Wilkinson said, “The Council is committed to a significant cultural facility in the city centre but due to the ongoing assessment of damage after the fire, it has become clear we cannot reopen the building as quickly as we would like.

“We are continuing to work through the various options open to us, based on either refurbishing or replacing the current building.”

Just after the fire, the Council said the venue would be closed for eight weeks. More than 40 shows were called off.

The latest postponements include Dawn French’s new show, 30 Million Minutes, which was to be the opening act of the first Derby Comedy Festival, a week of Buddy—The Buddy Holly Story and five nights of the touring show New Jersey Nights which pays tribute to Franki Valli and the Four Seasons.

The authority is also trying to find a new home for the annual pantomime which this year is Beauty and the Beast.

Some events may be transferred to the council’s £28m velodrome at Pride Park which can be turned into a 5,000-seat concert arena. But that building is not due to open to the public until January 2015.

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