'Mouthwatering' plans for Hartlepool's Borough Hall - this is what to expect

Plans also include giving a chance to new up-and-coming musicians and refurbishing the iconic building on the Headland to become a ‘cultural centre’ for the North East.

Susan French, performance venues manager on the council, gave a presentation to Hartlepool Borough Council Regeneration Services Committee, building on plans for the future of the venue.

She said: “The aim of the project is going to be looking at the programme and the arts offer, but also looking at employment opportunities which are realistic for our people in the town.

“It’s about rebranding it, giving it an identity, so people know physically what it’s for.

“It’s about putting the right things in, and the right bands and attracting the right musicians and comedians and large-scale theatre.

“It’s about putting that in there and becoming a real competitor against all the other venues in the North East, but offering that unique look and unique design.”

She also commented how they wanted to improve all the areas of the building, including renovating rooms for weddings and business events, and potentially even launching a record label in-house for local artists.

Council officers added it would be a three-year project to develop the building, which originally opened in 1866.

Coun Christopher Akers-Belcher, chair of the committee, noted priorities in the plan need to include aspects such as the bar area and backstage area to attract top artists.

He said: “I don’t think we can play down we need to attract some high-quality artists to the area. If we don’t do that we’re going to set ourselves up to fail so I think it has to be a priority.

“I think it’s a fantastic thing, it’s about Hartlepool. We have to get the message out that this venue is an integral part of the cultural offer in Hartlepool.

“We need to take the public with us, this is a three year journey to have the best venue in the North East, and that’s potentially what we could have.”

Councillors praised the ideas for the building going forward, adding they have high hopes for the site.

Coun Lee Cartwright said: “A lot of venues in the town have recently closed, we need something like this in the town, for me it’s a no brainer.”

Coun Jim Lindridge said: “This has been a long time coming, the place is dropping to bits really, it needs to be changed and transformed.

“It’s for Hartlepool, it’s the whole picture. We want something that’s iconic, I’m looking at that [the plans], it’s mouthwatering really.”

The plans comes after the building was highlighted in the council’s capital and indigenous growth investment programme as one to be allocated regeneration funding in the town.

A comprehensive business and project delivery plan is being developed which will be presented to a future meeting of Finance and Policy Committee, which will include details of funding for the work.