Birmingham City Council has issued a fresh update on efforts to protect the crumbling Grade II-listed Methodist Central Hall in Corporation Street, following warnings from campaigners that the historic building is at risk of collapse.
Urgent Works Notice and Receiver Appointment
The council previously served an urgent works notice on the owners of the hall, which opened in 1904, after concerns over its deteriorating condition. Photographs have shown visible damage to the red-brick building's roof and windows.
Earlier this year, the council confirmed it had stepped in to secure safety measures around the building while continuing discussions with the owners. It later revealed that a receiver had been appointed and was working to address the issues identified.
Latest Update from Council Spokesperson
A council spokesperson said: "Birmingham City Council continues to work closely with all parties to ensure this important historic building is protected. The receiver has advised the council they're awaiting a detailed cost report for the required works, which is expected to be received by the end of this month."
The hall has been rotting away for nearly a decade since the former Que Club closed in 2017. In 2022, Irish leisure operator Press Up Hospitality Group and developer Oakmount received planning permission to transform the building into a 155-bedroom hotel called 'The Dean', but no work began and receivers were appointed by the project's funder.
Building Back on the Market
The hall was put back on the market through Savills and Sanderson Weatherall in 2025. It has been described as one of Birmingham's most important historic landmarks, and campaigners have urged all parties to secure its long-term future.
The Victorian Society previously named the hall among the 'most at-risk' Victorian and Edwardian buildings in the country. The society said it shared "local people's concern" about the "at-risk" hall "decaying in real time".
