Harrogate Council to Consider £7m Convention Centre Renovation

The director of Harrogate Convention Centre stated that a £7 million renovation of the venue would “significantly improve revenue opportunities.” Next week, councillors are scheduled to convene to deliberate proposals for financing an expansion of Studio Two at the King’s Road site, aiming to increase its capacity. Gareth Dadd, the deputy leader of the council, described the centre as a location that “promotes the town and Yorkshire on a national stage, bringing in visitors from across the country.” This discussion occurs nine months after a multi-million pound project to renovate the site was abandoned because of escalating expenses. Dadd commented: “It is critical that we retain the benefits of the convention centre while at the same time finding opportunities to reduce our subsidy, improve the facilities and align the centre with our long-term vision for Harrogate.” He added: “We want to take the convention centre forward while still protecting taxpayers’ money and promoting the economy of the town, and the proposals for the investment will be carefully considered during the executive’s meeting.” Constructed in 1982, the convention centre presently features a 2,000-seat auditorium and 13,000 square metres of exhibition area. Nevertheless, it has historically lacked larger breakout rooms; therefore, the plans to expand these could generate an additional £1.5 million in yearly revenue. Paula Lorimer, the centre director, stated that the proposals for Studio Two are “very welcome and would significantly improve revenue opportunities.” She further remarked: “This venue is integral to the visitor economy of Harrogate. Its conferences, exhibitions, corporate events, banquets and live entertainment create jobs and business to the town’s shops, bars, cafes, restaurants and hotels – worth more than £45 million a year to the local economy.” She also noted that the centre’s performance has consistently improved in recent years, and the proposed investment is expected to sustain this trajectory. For highlights from North Yorkshire, tune into BBC Sounds, or view the most recent episode of Look North. You can also submit a story you believe merits coverage here. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available for review.