Final closure date revealed for Oldham's Queen Elizabeth Hall
The Queen Elizabeth Hall, Oldham's iconic brutalist theatre that's hosted everyone from Iron Maiden to Jimmy Carr over nearly five decades, will close its doors for the final time on May 10 before being demolished as part of a major town centre regeneration plan.
The venue, which opened in 1977 after 15 years of construction and was named for the Queen's silver jubilee, was condemned in 2023 after dangerous Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) was discovered in its structure.
The closure marks the end of an era for Oldham's cultural scene, with the hall's final scheduled event being a documentary about local business tycoon Frank Rothwell's solo 3,000-mile Atlantic rowing expedition at age 70.
The site will be transformed into 2,000 new homes and green space through a partnership between Oldham Council and developers Muse, with the new Loom events space next to the indoor market taking over as the town's main venue for large gatherings and election counts.
At a Glance
| What | Queen Elizabeth Hall to close permanently on May 10 before demolition |
|---|---|
| Who | Oldham Council, developers Muse, local residents and performers |
| Where | Queen Elizabeth Hall, Oldham town centre |
| When | Final day May 10, 2025 (demolition date TBC) |
| Why it matters | Loss of iconic venue that hosted major bands, comedians and cultural events for decades |
| What's next | Site to become 2,000 new homes and green space; election counts to move to new Loom venue |
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