Historic St George's Hall could close as a concert venue after 150 years of providing entertainment to generations.

Packed houses in the famous listed building have enjoyed listening to celebrities ranging from Charles Dickens to Ken Dodd since the hall, pictured, opened in 1853.

It is also the venue of the Yorkshire Brass Band championships and frequently host of the world famous Halle Orchestra.

But consultant architects, to be appointed by Bradford Council to examine the feasibility of building a showpiece regional concert venue in the city, will now look at the future of the listed building.

They will consider whether the Council-owned Victorian heritage gem is still suitable as a modern concert venue taking into account its seating capacity, design, age and running costs as the hall is now heavily subsidised and expensive to run.

The study, expected to be under way by autumn, will investigate the possibility of creating a flagship concert hall which would be a main plank in Bradford's bid to become European Capital of Culture in 2008.

John Botteley, the Council's head of theatres and arts, said other cities, including Manchester, were also considering whether their ageing venues were now suitable for modern needs.

"If St George's Hall was no longer needed as a concert venue it would remain an important arts building. It would not be lost to Bradford. I think everyone is aware of its problems, though," he said.

Mr Botteley is in a team of top officers from across the authority working on a brief which is expected to be awarded to top architectural consultants in the near future.

The Royal Institute of British Architects is also expected to be heavily involved in the study which could give the district national prominence in the world of show business.

Consultants could be asked to consider a concert hall as part of the development of Exchange Court, one of the most sensitive sites in the city, flanked by the historic Victoria Hotel, Telegraph & Argus building and St George's Hall.

The Bradford dance group Kala Sangam has already announced proposals for a £3 million arts centre on the site.

But Mr Botteley said the group drawing up the brief may decide the consultants should not be constrained and could look at other sites in the city.

The Council is also considering options for the future management of the Alhambra Theatre which include bringing in a private company to run it, but St George's Hall is not included in that plan.

Today, Terry Uttley bass player with Bradford band Smokie, said: "We have played there seven or eight times and it has been an established concert hall for years. It would be a shame to lose it for that use.

"It may not have the best acoustics and line vision but I would not want to see it lost."

Richard Hirst, manager of the Yorkshire Building Society Band - formerly the Hammond Sauce Band, said: "We think it is an absolutely fabulous concert hall. The Hammond Sauce Band has been playing there since 1950.

"We would be sorry to lose it, but having said that if there was something bigger, better and more suitable we have to move forward."

The Council's executive member for the environment Councillor Anne Hawkesworth said: "It is only a feasibility study and no-one can say what is or isn't possible.

"It is heavily subsidised and great chunks of the building are not functional where you cannot see the stage.

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