Wolverhampton Civic Hall

The hall, which was designed by Lyons and Israel in the Classical style was completed in May 1938. The smaller Wulfrun Hall had been inspired by the architecture of the Stockholm Concert Hall. It was officially opened by the Earl of Dartmouth on 12 May 1938.{{cite web|url=http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/articles/civichall/history.htm|title=The Story of Wolverhampton's Civic and Wulfrun Hall|first=Bev|last=Parker|access-date=23 April 2020}} Jack Hylton and his orchestra provided the entertainment for the occasion. Queen Elizabeth II visited the Civic Hall and had lunch with civic leaders during a visit to the West Midlands on 24 May 1962.{{cite web|url=http://www.yourwolvescivic.co.uk/history/royal-visit.html|title=Royal Visit|publisher=Your Wolves Civic|access-date=20 June 2021}}

It was renovated and extended to a design by Penoyre & Prasad in 2001.{{cite web|url=https://www.ajbuildingslibrary.co.uk/projects/display/id/1825|title=Wolverhampton Civic Hall|publisher=AJ Buildings Library|access-date=23 April 2020}}

The venue was reconfigured to create the new Slade Rooms in March 2010.{{cite web|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/tv/slade-guitarist-dave-hill-wants-245511|title=Slade guitarist Dave Hill on new Facebook campaign for Noddy Holder to rejoin the band|date=31 January 2010|work=Birmingham Mail|access-date=23 April 2020}}

City of Wolverhampton Council announced plans for a revamp of the Civic Halls with a budget of £10.4 million in March 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-hubs/wolverhampton/2019/03/01/exclusive-wolverhampton-civic-halls-reopening-delayed-to-2021|title=Civic Halls reopening delayed to 2021|work=Express and Star|first=Peter|last=Madeley|date=1 March 2019|access-date=23 April 2020}} The halls closed in December 2015 at which time the cost projection had increased to £14.4 million. In March 2019 it was announced that the halls would not reopen until autumn 2021 and that the cost was projected at £38.1 million.

In November 2021 it was announced that the Civic Halls were now due to reopen in Autumn 2022, which in October 2022 was officially revised to June 2023. The City Council also announced that they had signed a 25-year deal with AEG Presents to manage and promote the venues, which have been expanded to 3,404 in the Civic Hall and 1,289 in the Wulfrun Hall.{{cite web|url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/black-country/new-25-year-deal-struck-22106963|title=New reopening date and partner deal|date=8 November 2021|access-date=4 December 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/news/global-events-leader-aeg-presents-announces-opening-new-halls-wolverhampton|title=Global events leader AEG Presents announces opening of new The Halls Wolverhampton|date=10 October 2022|access-date=11 October 2022}}

The reopening of the place will officially take place in June 2023, with a series of concerts including Siouxsie's.

A Compton Organ was specially designed for the Civic Hall. The organ was made up of over 5,500 pipes and contained an early electronic division known as a Melotone.{{cite web|url=https://www.cinema-organs.org.uk/venues/wolverhampton-civic-hal/|title=Wolverhampton Civic Hall|publisher=Cinema Organs|access-date=23 April 2020}} G. D. Cunningham, then Birmingham City Organist, had the distinction of being the first musician to play there to invited guests. The Organ was re-built and enlarged in 2001, and was capable of being played as a concert organ or theatre organ.

In September 2016 it was announced that the organ would be removed and would not return to the Civic Hall. In February 2019 it was revealed that the pipes had been scrapped, despite several offers to restore them, free of charge.{{cite web |last1=Averty |first1=Jack |title='No alternative': Wolverhampton Council defends decision to scrap historic organ pipes |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-hubs/wolverhampton/2019/02/12/no-alternative-wolverhampton-council-defends-decision-to-scrap-historic-organ-pipes/ |newspaper=Express & Star |date=12 February 2019 |access-date=14 February 2019 |language=en}}{{cite web |last1=Averty |first1=Jack |title=Revealed: Wolverhampton Council dumped Civic Hall organ pipes without 'full asbestos checks' |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-hubs/wolverhampton/2019/02/14/revealed-wolverhampton-council-dumped-civic-hall-organ-pipes-without-carrying-out-full-asbestos-checks/ |newspaper=Express & Star |date=14 February 2019 |access-date=14 February 2019 |language=en}}

File:Portishead Wolverhampton 20080413-2.jpg playing live at the venue, 13 April 2008]]

The first concert was performed on the evening of 16 May 1938, by the Old Royals Association, with Anne Ziegler, Webster Booth and several other soloists.

Comedians, such as Ken Dodd, Peter Kay and Jim Davidson, have appeared at the hall.{{cite web|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/entertainment/2008/09/17/jim-davidson-on-the-offensive-at-his-favourite-venue/|title=Davidson on the offensive at fave venue|date=17 September 2008|work=Express and Star|access-date=23 April 2020}}

It has also staged some sports events. Throughout much of the 1970s and 1980s professional wrestling was broadcast live from the venue on Saturday afternoons.{{cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b894d301b|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813152743/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b894d301b|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 August 2022|title=Wrestling from Wolverhampton Civic Hall (1972)|publisher=British Film Institute|access-date=23 April 2020}} On 16 March 2006 the venue was first utilized by the Professional Darts Corporation as it hosted Week 4 of the 2006 Premier League Darts. From 2007 the venue has staged the Grand Slam of Darts. However the tournament in 2018 was moved to Aldersley Leisure Village due to on going refurbishments at the Civic Hall.{{Cite web|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-hubs/wolverhampton/2018/11/12/bullseye-grand-slam-of-darts-returns-to-the-black-country/|title=GALLERY: Grand Slam of Darts returns to Wolverhampton|last=Parkes|first=Thomas|website=expressandstar.com|language=en|access-date=2018-11-15}} Gary Anderson, having competed every year in tournament since its conception, says he prefers the Civic Hall over the new venue. "The Civic Hall - that was the Grand Slam of Darts."Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/i4txyxWlOP8 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20201011192619/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4txyxWlOP8&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Citation|last=TungstenTales|title=Grand Slam of Darts 2018 - Gary Anderson believes the Grand Slam should return to the Civic Hall!|date=2018-11-10|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4txyxWlOP8|access-date=2018-11-15}}{{cbignore}}

There have also been some memorable concerts. The rock band, The Who, performed there in January 1969.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c5yUA_S5pGoC&pg=PA304 |title=Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere: The Complete Chronicle of the WHO 1958–1978|first1=Andrew |last1=Neill|first2= Matthew|last2= Kent |year= 2009 |page=304|publisher=Sterling Publishing Company|isbn=978-1402766916}} Morrissey played his first solo performance at the Civic Hall on 22 December 1988.{{cite web|url=http://www.passionsjustlikemine.com/live/moz-g88.htm|title=Wolverhampton Civic Hall|date=22 December 1988|publisher=Passions Like Mine|access-date=23 April 2020}} Nirvana performed "All Apologies" for the first time before a live audience at the Wulfrun Hall on 6 November 1991{{Cite web|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/picture-galleries/2008/04/22/the-night-nirvana-came-to-wolverhampton/|title=The night Nirvana came to Wolverhampton|website=expressandstar.com|date=22 April 2008 |language=en|access-date=2020-02-04}} and Louise Redknapp performed there on the final date of her Soft and Gentle Tour on 18 December 1997.{{cite web|url=https://www.setlist.fm/search?page=3&query=Louise+Redknapp|title=Louise Redknapp Setlists|publisher=setlists.fm|access-date=1 May 2018}}

In 2009, The Specials played a concert at the Civic Hall as part of their 30th anniversary reunion tour; the performance was later released on DVD.{{cite web |title=The Specials announce live DVD |url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/news/the-specials-announce-live-dvd-49979/ |website=Uncut |date=19 January 2010 |access-date=9 September 2021}} More recently, the Welsh rock band, the Manic Street Preachers, gave a concert in June 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/what-time-manic-street-preachers-9348460|title=What time is the Manic Street Preachers' concert in Cardiff Castle? Door opening times and info on when the Manics are on stage|date=28 May 2015|publisher=Wales Online}}

It was announced in February 2023, Siouxsie would play her first UK gig after a ten-year absence at the Civic Hall in June 2023.{{cite web|first=James |last=Vukmirovic|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-hubs/wolverhampton/2023/02/07/rock-legend-is-latest-announced-to-hit-stage-of-wolverhamptons-revamped-civic-hall/|title=Siouxsie: Rock legend is latest announced to hit stage of Wolverhampton's revamped Civic Hall|publisher=Expressandstar.com|date=2023-02-07|access-date=2023-02-10}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.thehallswolverhampton.co.uk/ Official Website]

{{Culture places Wolverhampton}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Music venues in the West Midlands (county)

Category:Buildings and structures in Wolverhampton

Category:Darts venues

Category:Tourist attractions in Wolverhampton

Category:Grade II listed buildings in the West Midlands (county)