Breathing New Life...

Manchester's Albert Hall, built in 1910, is a Grade II listed Wesleyan chapel on Peter Street, designed in eclectic style with Baroque and Gothic elements. Until 2011, the ground floor of the building was used as a bar and nightclub but the first floor ornate chapel has been closed and hidden for over 40 years. Now, the building is being restored and will open as an events venue, restaurant and bar next year. We saw Maxine Peake deliver a haunting adaptation of Shelley's 'The Masque of Anarchy' here a couple of weeks ago and the hall was quite superb with a capacity of 2,000, lined with wooden seating in a horseshoe shape, stained glass windows and ornate ceiling, it is nothing short of grand.