Fires, royalty and controversy...43 years of troubled city centre venue
1977 - IN THE BEGINNING
Following a fire in 1963, Derby was without an assembly rooms of any sort until 1977 when a new brutalist style building appeared at a cost of £4 million - paid for by adding an extra penny on council tax. It was opened by the
Queen Mother on November 9, 1977. Over the years, a myriad of well-known names and faces appeared at the Assembly Rooms including Elton John, Jack Jones, Tony Bennett, Frankie Laine, Manic Street Preachers, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. There was also an early visit from Take That in 1992
2002 - CELEBRATING 25 YEARS
On November 9, there was a free open day with tours, live music, children’s activities and lighting displays
MARCH 2014 - FIRE IN ASSEMBLY ROOMS CAR PARK
Around tea-time and just a couple of hours before Ballroom to Broadway with Anton Du Beke was scheduled, early patrons were forced to evacuate the premises in a hurry, leaving their belongings and unfinished meals and drinks as fire broke out shooting flames up to 40ft into the air
APRIL 2014 - CITY COUNCIL SAYS VENUE WILL REMAIN CLOSED
Initial hopes that the venue would re-open fairly quickly were dashed when the council said it would remain closed for “at least 18 months”, leading to the cancellation of dozens of shows
MARCH 2015 - NO FUTURE
On March 5, the council finally admitted that the Assembly Rooms would never re-open
NOVEMBER 16 - INSURANCE PAY-OUT
The council announced that it was claiming £5.5 million to cover loss of assets damaged in the fire, the cost of remedial work and financial losses from the venue’s closure. It saved money on maintenance and utility bills but lost an estimated total of £1,256,000 over the 2014-15 and 2015-16 financial years
2017 - DERBY TELEGRAPH TAKES A LOOK INSIDE
After requesting for almost a year a look inside the abandoned building, we were allowed in to discover that because it was untouched by fire, the building looked exactly the same as it was on the night of the blaze. Cold and empty, the rooms needed a good clean-out to be back to normal it seemed
JANUARY 2018- PLAN FOR NEW VENUE
Following a consultation, the Labour group decided to go-ahead with a £44 million 3,000 capacity music and performance venue, and a car park, with council tax going up an extra 1% to help pay for it.
The consultation saw the music and performance venue emerge as the favourite option of four among the 1,006 people who responded, although no one option enjoyed majority support. The performance venue was preferred by 43%, 28% opted for refurbishment of the current Assembly Rooms, which seated around 1,500 people, 22% favoured a lyric theatre and 7% wanted a hybrid option of the others.
MAY 2018 - SUPPORT FOR REFURBISHMENT
After Labour lost its majority in May’s local elections, the Conservatives took over with the support of Lib Dem and UKIP councillors, who announced that refurbishing the venue and getting it open as soon as possible was a priority for all of them
JULY 2018 - A NEW FEASIBILITY STUDY TO TAKE PLACE
The council cabinet, headed by leader Councillor Chris Poulter, asked officers to investigate the scope and cost of renewing the Assembly Rooms and external consultancy was appointed. It took place between July and November.
DECEMBER 2018 - NEW ROOMS PLANS REVEALED
A £24 million plan to renew and enhance the building and its car park is announced ahead of seeking cabinet approval for the project with no borrowing involved
MAY 2019 - PUBLIC ARE GIVEN THEIR SAY
The public get the chance to comment on the refurbishment plans and also suggest a new name for the venue
JUNE 2019 - PLANNING APPLICATION FOR ASSEMBLY ROOMS SUBMITTED
The plans have been lodged and the council is hoping building work will start before the end of the year
NOVEMBER 2019 - GO-AHEAD GIVEN
Planning permission granted and work starts to remove asbestos from the building
JANUARY 2020 - ALL STOP
Derby City Council announces that with costs increasing to around £30m it is no longer viable to refurbish and pulls the plug on the current project
JULY 2020 - IS THIS THE END?
Derby City Council is proposing to put a new performance venue in Becketwell and demolish the 40-year-old Assembly Rooms in the next 18 months
AUGUST 2020 - THE FINAL ACT?
A planning application is submitted to demolish the Assembly Rooms and adjacent car park by Derby City Council