Skip to content

City cultural hub could overspend by £500k

Alec Doyle
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Wrexham council The street view of the front of the Ty Pawb buildingWrexham council
Tŷ Pawb saw a 17% increase in footfall last year

An arts venue seen as crucial to a UK City of Culture bid is facing a projected overspend of £89,000 this year.

Market rents and charges have risen at Tŷ Pawb, which is set to form a key part of Wrexham's bid to take the title for 2029.

The city missed out to Bradford for the UK City of Culture award in 2025, but councillors are keen to try again for 2029.

However, unless further savings or additional revenue can be found by April next year, Tŷ Pawb is projected to have overspent its budget by more than half a million pounds since 2022.

Wrexham council's Employment, Business and Investment Scrutiny Committee will examine the situation next week, with one area of the venue, the Maker Space, being converted into a retail unit for rent.

Despite the budget pressures, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported how the venue's popularity increased by 17% last year in terms of footfall.

Meaning "everyone's house" in English, the space brings together market stalls, arts, and play for children, as well as gatherings of local groups.

"Tŷ Pawb is a vital and much loved community hub," said chairwoman of the Wrexham Community and Culture Trust, Joanna Swash.

"Its diverse cultural programme of internationally renowned exhibitions, performing arts, markets and family activities attracts local, national and international visitors to Wrexham city centre."

Tighter financial monitoring has been put in place, while charges have also been introduced for an arts space which was previously available for free.

As a result, in 2024-25 it brought in £23,513 and is aiming to bring in a further £22,000 this year.

Investment is still needed at Tŷ Pawb which is contributing to the financial pressure.

Investigations are ongoing into issues with the roof and the installation this summer of a new £63,000 car park management system to improve efficiency.

Last year the venue spent £42,000 on roof patching, flood repair works and upgrades to car park lighting.

This article was written by a trusted journalist and then edited for length and style with the help of AI, before being checked again by a BBC Journalist. It's part of a pilot.