Oyez Arts has signed a 25-year lease on Altrincham Town Hall, securing the historic building as its permanent home and guaranteeing its future as a community space for a generation to come.
The deal, struck with Trafford Council, means the arts organisation that has run and managed the Town Hall since 2024 will now be its long-term custodian - keeping its doors open for weddings, celebrations, creative workshops, wellbeing sessions and community events well into the future.
Founding director Jo Cushing said the signing was a landmark moment: "We are absolutely delighted that the community will own the town hall for the next 25 years. This is a massive opportunity for everyone in Altrincham as it is the last remaining community heritage building in the town.
"It is a happy space for creative connection, ideas, participation and engagement. It nurtures talent at every level, builds confidence and helps enrich local lives. The interior is beautiful, an intimate venue for weddings and life events with oak panelling and stained glass.”
Trafford Council leader Cllr Tom Ross added his backing, describing the Town Hall as "the historic heart of the town" and saying he looked forward to a productive partnership that would see the building "thrive and develop as a much-loved hive of activity and creativity."
The 124-year-old building has become a cherished backdrop for weddings and life events as well as a hub for creativity and community connection under Oyez Arts' stewardship.
With the lease now signed, Oyez Arts is inviting local people to play their part in the building's future through its community share offer.
Shares start from just £100, with investors also becoming members of the organisation and gaining an equal vote in how it is run. Funds raised will go towards essential repairs, refurbishment and the long-term restoration of the building.
Full details are available at oyezarts.org/invest.
