Sneak peek inside Rochdale town hall as finishing touches put to £16m refurb ahead of reopening next year

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Final touches of the £16m refurbishment of Rochdale town hall are being carried out ahead of its reopening next year. Work on the Grade I-listed landmark has been ongoing since 2021.

It will also see the square outside pedestrianised. The town hall will officially reopen to the public on March 3, it has been announced.

But this week councillors were given a first glimpse of some of the work, which has seen expert builders and volunteers have come together to restore the building's historic rooms and reopen spaces that were previously hidden from public view. READ MORE: Calls to scrap first-class carriages on Avanti trains over Christmas period READ MORE: Nearly 40,000 people in Greater Manchester missing out on £3,500 DWP top-up as charity makes plea The refurbishment includes the restoration of the great hall, the reception rooms and the mayor’s parlour; the conversion of an old office space into a new community and events room, known as the Bright Hall, in honour of pioneering former MP John Bright; the repair and cleaning of much of the building’s stained glass, painted surfaces, Minton floor tiles and intricate stonework and the creation of an exhibition space, named the Welcome Gallery.

A new restaurant, The Martlet, headed up by award-winning chef Darren Parkinson, will also be launched. Almost 500 volunteers who have been part of the restoration will also be given a sneak peak inside in the coming weeks.