The UK Culture Trust, a nationwide community interest company, has described the restoration of the historic Imperial Theatre in Walsall as a 'no-brainer' for the town centre's regeneration. The Grade II Listed building on Darwall Street, last used as a Wetherspoons pub, has been vacant since 2016.
Asset of Community Value application planned
The London-based trust intends to apply for an Asset of Community Value (ACV) for The Imperial. An ACV would give the community the opportunity to bid on the property if the private landowner decides to sell. Euan Maybank, director of the UK Culture Trust, said a feasibility study found strong commercial potential for the building as a music and comedy venue.
Maybank noted the building's long cultural history: "It’s been in cultural use since the mid-19th Century when it began as an agricultural hall. At the time agricultural halls were always used for events as well. They would have market days, sales, the circus, and performers. It was completely rebuilt as a theatre towards the end of the 19th century, then cinema took over in the early 20th century. It was a bingo hall for 50 years before becoming a Wetherspoons. It’s been dark since 2016. So it has this amazing track record of over a century of community use."
Feasibility study and council plans
The Imperial was one of four properties considered by architects Hill Harvey-Wood when Walsall Council was seeking a new home for the Walsall Leather Museum. A feasibility study indicated the building would 'satisfy the requirements of the brief' for the future attraction. However, the council later purchased 1-3 The Bridge for the museum's relocation instead.
Maybank, who lives in Walsall, also has his eye on the Market Tavern, Highgate Brewery, and the White Lion in Caldmore. He said: "These are all the sorts of spaces which we know people care deeply about, but are frustrated that there’s no beneficial use coming from them. I think everybody’s really starting to realise that cultural space which used to be self-funding and is no longer self-funding, is hugely at risk."
Cross-subsidising cultural spaces
The trust aims to secure a wide variety of cultural spaces across the UK. Maybank explained: "Some of it may turn a profit, some of it won’t. We’re imagining through diversity of revenue streams that we can cross-subsidise those sorts of venues that don’t make as much money." Walsall Council is the authority responsible for issuing and registering ACVs in the area.
Maybank added: "If the council are keen to have that sort of leisure activity in the town centre, then the Imperial is the place for it to be. It’s a no-brainer. With a change in the council moving into Reform, who knows what their plans will be. But we are very clear that the Imperial presents a really great opportunity to bring entertainment for people in Walsall right into the town centre."
Funding and urgency
He urged cooperation from the owner: "If the owner was willing to work with us, then we’d be able to progress much more quickly. There is funding available already and we could be moving forward. I worry that it gets to the point where the state of decline in the building becomes a bargaining chip for it to be redeveloped differently. The owners say it’s in a terrible state and they need to do it for public safety and benefit."
The UK Culture Trust believes bringing The Imperial back could 'really transform the town centre'. Maybank concluded: "There’s a lot that’s missing from Walsall that is only really missing because it’s not being used. I think probably a lot of people in Walsall think that it’s the most terrible town in the country. We firmly believe that taking these spaces back into community ownership can really transform the town centre. So for us, there’s no need for this building to be sitting empty. There’s absolutely no need. We’re here, and if you give us half the chance and we’ll get on with it."
