The costs of running Beaumanor Hall and proposals to seek ideas for future options are set out in a new report.
Published today (Thursday), Leicestershire County Council’s update shows that the historic site in Woodhouse - a conference, wedding, civic events and outdoor education centre – made a loss of around £460,000 last year.
Now, it’s proposed to ask schools, residents, businesses and other groups which use the venue for ideas on how to improve the financial position.
Beaumanor Hall is a beautiful Victorian Grade II listed building with significant historical importance.
Person:Councillor Helen Butler, cabinet member for resources
The site has a lot of potential. It’s currently operating at a loss to the tax payer and that’s why we want to open up the conversation on what we could do differently.
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.
Beaumanor Hall has always operated at a net cost to the council - it’s estimated that the site will make a loss of just over £480,000, following a loss of just under £460,000 the previous year.
It’s proposed to talk to schools, residents, businesses and other groups during August and September.
Cabinet will discuss the report next Tuesday (15 July) at 2pm – watch cabinet meetings online
More about Beaumanor
- Beaumanor Hall was built between 1842 and 1854 by architect William Railton for the Herrick family. It was requisitioned by the War Office as a secret listening station to intercept encrypted enemy signals. Purchased by Leicestershire County Council in 1974 as an education and conference centre, the hall and parts of the grounds are Grade II* listed.
- Beaumanor Hall functions as a conferencing and wedding venue, providing a large amount of conferencing, large scale meetings and away days, as well as craft fairs. The hall also hosts a number of civic events for the Chairman, Lord Lieutenant, emergency services and armed forces.
- The site is also an outdoor education centre (for residential visits using the onsite cabins, or day visits) offering activities including archery, orienteering, climbing, abseiling, high ropes and water sports.