Informal Expressions of Interest for Operational management and promotion of the William Aston Hall

Tender description

As landlord of the venue, Wrexham Glyndwr University are now looking for a new tenant/partner to take over the operational management and promotion of the William Aston Hall and are seeking informal expressions of interest in the first instance. The William Aston Hall is Wrexham's largest theatre and concert venue, ideal for hosting live music, comedy, theatre, dance and much more. Located in the University's main building on the Wrexham campus, the hall has raked seating in its main auditorium and balcony, and is fully accessible with dedicated wheelchair spaces. It also offers a bar facility and there are more than 1,000 free car parking spaces available. Typically, the venue hosts around 50 shows per annum, with approximately 17,500 customers attending the venue each year. The William Aston Hall has a capacity of 890 for a seated event or 1200 for a standing event. In 2018, a £150,000 investment was made to improve the sound system and install a new control system and new lighting. The venue also includes changing rooms, storage space and office accommodation for 2 people. The University is seeking to negotiate an initial 5 year commitment with a suitable and experienced partner who can provide specialist services in event sourcing, promotion and venue management. The partner will bring artistic vision and innovation to sustain and develop the William Aston Hall as a professional and community events venue for North East Wales. The partner should have the ability to call on a bank of contacts and networks from across the Industry in order to enhance and expand the events programme within the venue. The partner will work with the University to deliver a new and more modern programme that will help with the recruitment of students into the University and be an integral part of their social experience on campus. The partner will work with the University on ensuring that the branding of the venue and the programme of events supports the University’s values and reputation. The partner will work with the University to provide work placement opportunities for students and for them to benefit from the partners Industry knowledge. The partner will work with the University to agree an operating model that is operationally robust and financially sustainable.