Council's historic venue expected to make £480k loss

A council is seeking ideas to reduce the costs of a historic Leicestershire venue, which is expected to make a £480,000 loss this year.

Beaumanor Hall - built between 1842 and 1854 in Woodhouse - was purchased by Leicestershire County Council in 1974 and has been used as a venue for weddings and other events.

The Grade II listed building has never operated at a profit, but the authority said it now wanted to improve the financial position "given growing pressure on the council's finances".

A plan to discuss the future options for the venue with local schools, residents, businesses and other groups, is due to be discussed at a cabinet meeting.

Helen Butler, cabinet member for resources, said: "The site has a lot of potential. It's currently operating at a loss to the taxpayer, and that's why we want to open up the conversation on what we could do differently."

Beaumanor Hall - which was requisitioned by the War Office as a secret listening station to intercept encrypted enemy signals - had to close for 10 weeks in April due to structural concerns with the chimneys of the main building.

It has since reopened after initial repairs.

Before that temporary closure, the site was forecast to make a loss of £449,000, according to a council report, but that figure is now estimated to be more than £480,000.

The council is proposing an eight-week consultation from August, involving schools, other customers, the general public and specialist operators within the sector.

Schools were considered a "key customer" of the hall, with about 16,000 children using the site each year - the majority for residential stays.

The venue also employs about 121 staff members who would also be consulted on its future.

Butler added: "We deliberately haven't set out any options at this stage so that this can be genuinely open engagement.

"It's about looking at what's possible and how we can get to a point where vital council funds don't need to be spent on running the hall."

The plan will be discussed at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

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