Work underway on £3m Colne Heritage Quarter refurb

When complete, the project will see the repair and restoration of the market town’s Muni Theatre, Little Theatre, and Pendle Hippodrome.

Pendle Council was awarded £6.5m from the government’s Levelling Up Fund in October 2021. The authority has allocated £3.5m to the refurbishment of Colne’s Heritage Quarter, which is made up of the three theatres.

Contractor B & E Boys has already begun work on the Muni Theatre’s £1.6m refurbishment, with repairs expected to be complete by January. Upgrades to the Albert Road venue will include a new roof and windows, as well as new heating and lighting to improve energy efficiency.

Pendle Hippodrome has received a £1.7m investment, which will see an extension of the theatre into the former Derby Arms pub next door off New Market Street. Readstone Construction is the contractor for the project, which also includes the redevelopment of the existing foyer and box office.

Improvements to the Pendle Hippodrome are already taking shape with the theatre and pub linked internally, and are due to complete in June 2024.

Down the road, work is set to begin on the £262,500 future-proofing of the Little Theatre off River Street to incorporate a single-storey extension, a modern foyer, a green room, and a kitchen and bar. There will also be improved wheelchair access and facilities.

Cllr Asjad Mahmood, Leader of Pendle Council, said: “It’s great to see how the work is progressing on the theatres and I cannot wait to see the finished results.

“All three theatres are such important assets for Colne and this major investment will really give the town a boost and attract even more people to Pendle.”

Cllr Mohammad Hanif, Pendle Council’s portfolio holder for leisure services, added: “All three theatres have suffered from chronic underinvestment over a number of years.

“This funding really is a lifeline to secure the futures of each of them and provide quality, up-to-date entertainment venues for residents and visitors.”