The restoration and subsequent successful use of the Royal Hall in Harrogate, a key venue in the Harrogate International Centre portfolio, has been acknowledged by the construction industry's own professionals by being awarded the Building Project of the Year as well as being winner in the Conservation Category in this years RICS Pro-Yorkshire Awards. The regional award automatically qualifies the Royal Hall for a place in the national finals due to take place in London later this year.
The buildings successful transformation has enabled it to add to the already wide versatility of HIC as a key UK and international conference and exhibition destination. The restoration project was led by Leeds based project management and cost consultants Turner & Townsend and well known theatre architects, Burrell Foley Fischer. The contractor was the BAM Group and the whole project was completed to time and budget.
Reopened by HRH Prince Charles in January 2008, Prince Charles congratulated all those involved in delivery of the works commenting, "When we constantly hear about national projects being over-budget and late, this was an exemplar project. Everyone has worked closely together as a team and this has been essential in bringing this project in on time and on budget."
Designed by the country's most prolific theatre architect, Frank Matcham, the Royal Hall is the only surviving kursaal in the UK. Opened in 1903 and named the Kursaal (a German word, meaning cure hall), it was then renamed the Royal Hall to reflect a more patriotic position during the First World War.
The building celebrates Harrogate's spa heritage and it hosted all the great performers of the twentieth century, including Sarah Bernhardt and George Robey, the London Philharmonic, Anna Pavlova, the Beatles and John Denver.
Structural issues resulted in the building's partial closure in 2002. Then a generous £6m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, plus a £2.1m funding package from Harrogate Borough Council, and a fundraising contribution of £2.7m by the stalwart Royal Hall Restoration Trust, allowed a restoration programme for the building which enables it to perform a variety of community entertainment and conference functions for at least another hundred years.
The authentic redecoration to the front of house areas brings the original spectacular paint and gilding scheme designed and crafted by Frank Matcham back to life. J Ibbotson Ltd, the decorating contractors, were honoured for their craftsmanship at the Johnstones Decorator of the Year Awards 2008 and awarded the Painter of the Year title. 37,000 man-hours were needed to complete the work and over 75,000 sheets of 23 ¾ carat gold leaf have been used in the restoration, augmented with restored painted tapestries, lunettes, and replicated period carpets, seats, drapes and light fittings.
With a seating capacity of 1050 the Royal Hall has been exceedingly popular with the public. Over 5,000 people queued to tour the building on the first public open day in April last year. Since then a further 3250 visitors have attended one of a further eighteen public open days. In addition there have been ninety group tours, and more tours are planned for the coming year.
Demonstrating Harrogate's immense capability to host events of all kinds the Royal Hall has hosted a diverse range of events during its first year of reopening. Over sixty entertainment shows have taken place with 30% of these having been produced by local theatre, music and dance groups.
Ten conferences, plus award ceremonies, drinks receptions and events such as a classic car auction and an American Wrestling event highlight the versatility of the venue and its appeal to a broad audience and a wide range of event organisers.
The Royal Hall was also recognised by the British Construction Industry in 2008 when it received a High Commendation in the Conservation Award category at the industry's annual awards, and was short-listed in the Prime Minister's Better Public Building Award.