St George’s Hall, Bradford
Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor
St George’s Hall has been bringing culture to the communities of Bradford since 1853. Having undergone a recent refurbishment it is now another perfect combination of Victorian grandeur and sleek modern design in the city’s architectural landscape. Although a lot of the building has physically transformed, it has managed to retain the sense of place and purpose such a cultural meeting point can only gather with time.
one of the only places in the North that combines excellent acoustics with a feeling of intimacy
You will find it hard to come by a venue with as much on offer as St George’s, the breadth of programming makes the venue truly unique. It’s one of the only places in the North that combines excellent acoustics with a feeling of intimacy. It therefore means that a comedian can whip up the atmosphere as easily as an orchestra can saturate it with sound. Musicians from all over the world, and from all manner of genres, have publicly commented on how much they enjoy the experience of performing at St George’s.
Built by Bradford mayor Samuel Smith, the hall was intended to be for all of Bradford’s residents. It opened in the mid 19th Century with a three day festival of music, featuring the largest names at the time as well as a chorus of singers from throughout Yorkshire who formed especially for the occasion. Over more recent decades the hall has seen performances from David Bowie, Genesis, Queen, Bryan Adams, Jools Holland, Blondie, Morrissey, Laura Marling, Nigel Kennedy and Opera North.
There’s nothing quite like that feeling of standing in a packed crowd feeling music run through your body, or being part of a room that’s crying with laughter at a witty one liner. St George’s Hall is waiting to facilitate those incredible experiences.
