St Andrew’s Hall, Norwich is a former friary which can trace its origins back to 1226. It is part of a series of buildings and historic spaces which are collectively known as The Halls.
In 1559 St Andrews Hall witnessed the inauguration of the city’s mayor, and in 1695 it became a mint for coinage. More recently it has been used as an election ballot-counting centre, a wedding venue and home to the UK’s largets annual Beer Festival.
Concerts and more
One of the country’s oldest music festivals began life at St Andrew’s Hall in 1824. 200 years later, the Norfolk & Norwich Festival continues to flourish with concerts at The Halls as well as throughout Norwich.
Towns Fund
Such a historic building makes for an impressive venue, but the ancient structure also poses challenges. In 2023, significant essential repairs to the roof and windows were identified. This caused the closure of The Halls for extensive restoration.
Following the pandemic, Norwich was awarded a government Towns Fund payment, and part of this investment was used by the City Council to improve The Halls, improving access and other upgrades. This is part of the Norwich 2040 City Vision.
Prior to its closure, Adrian James Acoustics completed an acoustic evaluation with recommendations to RIBA Stage 2.
Heritage
The Halls have now reopened and are part of Norwich’s fine heritage. With a focus on preservation, we hope that future generations will continue to enjoy thess treasured medieval buildings, especially with recommended improvements.
Concert preformances have already returned to The Halls and we look forward to future ongoing improvements at this important location.
