The Victoria Hall was built in 1888 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. The classical Grade II listed building is built in local red brick and terracotta. (
visit link) The venue has been the scene of numerous concerts and rock gigs and has a capacity of 1,500.
History
"The Victoria Hall was constructed as an annex to Hanley Town Hall in 1888, as part of the city's celebrations for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. Originally the building had a capacity of 2800 people, but this has since been reduced considerably to 1,500 as seating replaced wooden forms and benches. The original building was made of red brick and terracotta, and designed by local borough surveyor Joseph Lobley.
As an adjunct to the town hall, the building originally had minimal front-of-house facilities. To remedy this, an extension was constructed in 1999 as part of the development of the Cultural Quarter, providing a new entrance space with information desk and a café. This extension also houses administration for the Ambassador Theatre Group, who operate the venue and the nearby Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent. Until 2011, the local Tourist Information Centre was housed here also." Source: (
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"This large building, with its decorative façade and shoe-box proportions, is the Victoria Hall, Hanley, a popular venue for concert-goers and wrestling fanatics alike.
The foundation stone was laid in August, 1887, and the Hall officially opened on October 4th, 1888. The opening ceremony appears to have been one of those grand and prolonged occasions the Victorians loved, starting in the Sessional Court with Councillor Charlesworth presenting the key to the Hall to his Worship, the Mayor. This was followed by a procession to the Victoria Hall where an invited audience took part in a ceremony consisting of the National Anthem, 17 speeches, and four organ pieces. Next day, there was a "grand organ recital" by A. L. Peace, organist of Glasgow Cathedral, and, on the Saturday, another organ recital, billed as "People's Popular Night", and performed by J. Kendrick Pyne, organist of Manchester Cathedral.
On October 11th, the first North Staffordshire Musical Festival, a charity concert in aid of the North Staffs. Infirmary, and the Haywood, Leek, and Longton Cottage Hospitals, was held. The Hall was absolutely packed, the arena, balcony and gallery crowded, and in the stalls people were standing right up to the doors. Occupying the platform, which had been decorated with exotic plants, was the band, surrounding Dr. Heap, the conductor. Behind them rose rank after rank of ladies dressed in white, then the more sombre evening dress of the male vocalists, and, finally, the great organ, glittering with colour and gold.
The organ, one of the best known features of the Hall, was built by the Huddersfield firm of Conacher and presented by George Meakin. In 1922, it was rebuilt by Henry Willis, the greatest British organ-builder of his time, who was also responsible for the organs at Liverpool and Westminster Cathedrals.
The superb acoustics of the Hall are another great asset, and have not only served the needs of our fine local choirs but also attracted artists of international repute. Among many famous names are Joachim, Busoni, Madame Patti, McCormack, Gigli, Tauber and Robeson. Well-known composers of the day were commissioned to write works especially for the festivals; in 1896, Elgar's "King Olaf' received its first performance here.' Neville Malkin 5th May 1976"
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A report written by Philip Cullinane about an event at this venue appeared in The Sentinel on 2nd July 2018. The report reads as follows;
"Hundreds of schoolchildren take over Hanley venue for three nights
The City Songbirds features 750 pupils
Hundreds of schoolchildren are flying high as they take over the Victoria Hall for three nights.
The City Songbirds is made up of 750 primary-age pupils from 27 North Staffordshire schools. Each night features different schools singing songs they have been learning throughout the academic year.
This year, the children have been getting into the World Cup spirit as the shows follow a central theme of sport and football.
Ruth Steele, joint lead with the City Music Service, said: “This started in 2002 with a small number of schools and now we need to do three nights to fit all 750 pupils in.
“There are concerts at Christmas and then these in the summer and it is a nice way to end the year. The City Music Service tutors go into the schools for an hour a week and the children learn the songs.
“This year, with the World Cup on and lots of schools having their sports day at this time of year, we have set a sport and football theme, with songs like ‘Football Crazy’ and ‘Sherlock’s Sports Day’."
Chloe Steele is a pupil at St Edward's CE Academy Cheddleton. The eight-year-old, who lives in Cheddleton, said: “It is nice to be on stage and I am looking forward to singing in front of people.
“I like singing ‘We Are The Champions’ and our big finale.”
Eight-year-old Pheobe Byrne, from Sneyd Green's Holden Lane Primary School, said: “I am looking forward to singing in front of an audience.”
Maple Court Academy pupil Isabella Shenton, aged six, from Bentilee, said: “I am looking forward to singing ’Rule Britannia Marmalade and Jam’.
“I have been practising with my twin sister Esme. I like the theme because my school has just had sports day and I liked the tug of war.”
Cheryl Everard, a teacher at The Willows Primary School, in Penkhull, said: “This is a great opportunity to come and sing somewhere like the Victoria Hall.
“It is brilliant to see them up on stage and all of their happy families in the audiences. The children have been having an hour a week with an excellent instructor to learn the songs and now we are seeing them all come together.”
Councillor Janine Bridges, Stoke-on-Trent City Council's cabinet member for education and the economy, said: “The City Music Service does a fantastic job all-year round and these concerts are a great way of bringing everyone together and celebrating its achievements.
"They’re always very popular, not just with the children who take part but also their relatives who get to watch them perform on stage in a fantastic venue. It’s a very proud moment for everyone involved."