Wiltshire Council has said in a statement that it is "continuing to make progress" as it seeks a third-party organisation to help run Salisbury City Hall as an entertainment venue.
The council has consistently said it remains committed to reopening the venue, despite a repair bill to make the City Hall safe totalling around £2 million.
The venue was built originally as a cinema, but its historical worth is due to the building being a war memorial to the men and women who lost their lives in World War II.
The City Hall closed as a vaccine centre earlier this year.
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The council recently published a Prior Information Notice (PIN).
This formally notifies the market and relevant organisations of the council’s intention to work with a third party.
This will allow the council to better understand the possible level of interest among third-party organisations to manage and operate City Hall on its behalf as a multi-purpose entertainment and cultural venue.
The PIN is open until the end of November and this process will help establish the best means of ensuring the venue has a long, successful and sustainable future.
Alongside the PIN, a market engagement event has been held at City Hall, which gave the council an opportunity to talk with potential operators in more detail.
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Councillor Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said: “I’m pleased we’ve reached this informative stage of the process as we look at the options to secure a third-party provider to work alongside, as ensuring we have the right expertise involved remains a key priority.
"The PIN process and recently held Market Engagement event will be important to help us decide the best direction to go in and ensure we are as informed as we possibly can be when making any decisions.
“We’re pleased to engage with potential operators and, with the amount of investment into Salisbury at the moment, we remain committed to reopening and delivering a thriving City Hall and see it as a key part of the city’s future.”
For all the latest information on the City Hall, go to wiltshire.gov.uk/salisbury-city-hall.
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