Oldham's Queen Elizabeth Hall closes after 40 years of events

After 40 years of hosting everything from Iron Maiden concerts to election counts, Oldham's Queen Elizabeth Hall is closing its doors for good. The venue, part of the Civic Centre complex built in 1962 and extended in 1977, has been a cornerstone of community life, welcoming musicians, comedians, and thousands of residents through its doors.

The hall's final curtain call came last month when the Oldham Council Music Service played its last concerts there, ending a four-decade run of youth performances. Over the years, the venue has seen legendary acts like Madness in 1979, The Kinks in 1994, and local heroes Inspiral Carpets in 1992. It also hosted snooker history when Steve Davis achieved the first televised maximum break in 1982.

Beyond entertainment, the Queen Elizabeth Hall served as Oldham's election count venue for decades, where politicians like MP Jim McMahon spent long nights watching votes being tallied. The building also stepped in as the temporary home for Christmas and Easter pantomimes during the Coliseum Theatre's refurbishment.

With civic functions now relocated to the JR Clynes building and the new multi-purpose venue The Loom recently opened, the Queen Elizabeth Hall's website has shut down and it's no longer accepting bookings. Plans to demolish the brutalist structure will make way for over 800 new homes as part of Oldham's regeneration plans, marking the end of an era for a venue that brought the community together for generations.