Royal Hall, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
- Client: Harrogate Borough Council
- Principal designer: Burrell Foley Fischer
- Principal engineer: Price & Myers
- Principal contractor: HBGC Contractors North East
- Contract value: £10.7 million
About the project
The sensitive and complex refurbishment of Harrogate’s Royal Hall – a unique historic asset – has been achieved through a combination of determination and teamwork and is a boon to the local economy.
Designed by Frank Matcham and Grade II* listed, the Royal Hall was opened in 1903 as a place for entertainment for Harrogate’s burgeoning spa industry. It is the only example in the UK of a Kursaal, relatively common in European spa towns but never quite established here. A series of structural failures, however, forced its closure in 2003. There were fears that all the original concrete would have to be removed and replaced, with significant damage to the interior. Thanks to the design team, however, the original structure was successfully stabilised, even though work had to take place while the international conference centre operated as usual.
After initial lottery funding, the Royal Hall Restoration Trust raised a further £2.7 million during construction which enabled restoration of the opulent interior to an even higher standard and brought back into use the upper balcony, with its 300 extra seats.
Judges' comment
"Sumptuous architecture, sumptuously restored."