One of Saltaire's finest Victorian buildings is in for a £250,000 refurbishment.

After recently serving as a beer hall and concert and theatre venue, the thriving Grade II* listed building will enjoy sympathetic restoration' of its exterior and several ornately decorated public rooms.

The hall - a central venue for last week's successful Saltaire Festival - will see plasterwork repaired and a new reception area installed, alongside joinery work and an extensive programme of redecoration.

Alterations to the lift area and enhancements to the entrance are aimed at improving accessibility, alongside upgrading of the existing bar and kitchen.

Work on Sir Titus Salt's 134-year-old building has been ordered by the charitable Salts Foundation. The three-storey hall, which hosted the festival's real ale celebration, a musical and various entertainment events, is home to Saturday's Day of Dance festival.

The building is now managed on behalf of the Salt Foundation by Shipley College.

Ian Durham, head of estates and facilities at the college, said Victoria Hall had received very little maintenance since its refurbishment in the early 1990s. He said: "The use of the hall is growing daily and, alongside regular community events, it is host to many regional, national and one-off events ranging from private weddings and celebrations to larger scale dance events, festivals, conferences and exhibitions and concert performances.

"Now is the time for the building to be both returned to its former glory and altered in some key areas.

"We are confident that this will prevent further deterioration and promote greater use of the hall which will be of benefit to the community."

Speaking on behalf of trustees, Salts Foundation chairman Geraldine Whelan said: "We are looking forward to the restoration of one of the most outstanding historical buildings in the Shipley area."

The work, by ISG Totty, has been designed by Saltaire architects Rance, Booth and Smith and is expected to be completed in November.

Philip Ryder, managing director of ISG Totty Building, said the project has been carefully phased to limit disruption to public functions at the hall during the works programme.

He added: "Once completed, we are confident that Victoria Hall will continue to serve as an important focal point for the local community and attract an increasing number of visitors to this World Heritage Site."

e-mail: jonathan.walton@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

HALL'S HISTORY

Victoria Hall was opened in 1872. The Institute, as it was known, was built by Sir Titus Salt, right, as a place of recreation. It was closed in the 1980s but re-opened in the 1990s. Thousands more have now been spent on it by the Salts Foundation.