ONE of Alcester’s most iconic buildings will open its doors to the public for the first time in almost 11 years following significant repairs and restoration work.
The Greig Hall is to host a Christmas Fayre on Saturday, December 4, marking the first opportunity for residents to see inside after Alcester Town Council took over the building.
The event runs from 11am to 5pm and will include Christmas crafts in the main hall with hot food and drink and live entertainment outside.
The town council took a long lease of the hall in April 2021 with the ultimate aim to pass it on to the recently formed charity ‘The Greig Hall’, to be run by the community.
While the work has not yet finished, the council hopes the Greig will be sufficiently completed to fully reopen in spring 2022.
Councillor Mark Cargill of Alcester Town Council said: “It was very sad seeing the poor state of the hall for the first time after being neglected for over ten years.
“We have been very fortunate in applying for various grants from many different sources and the fantastic efforts of the Friends of Greig Hall and their furniture shop Home to Home, to have raised a great deal of money to tackle the long list of repairs.
“Fundraising will have to continue though. We have a growing list of volunteers and I thank them all for their support. It is very encouraging.
“As a result, we will finally be able to let people see the inside of Greig Hall after a very long wait when we hold our Christmas Fayre on Saturday December 4.
“We hope as many people as possible will come along to enjoy the Fayre and see inside the Greig Hall for themselves.”
The fayre is being funded through the Welcome Back Fund, from the European Regional Development Fund money through the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
The money is managed by Shakespeare’s England on behalf of Stratford District Council.
Glyn Slade, Welcome Back event manager at Shakespeare’s England said: “The fund is designed to help projects that will help revitalise and promote town centres, and the fact that the Christmas Fayre is being used to promote the Greig Hall means it is a perfect use of the money.”
The Greig Hall, which has been closed since 2011 after it fell into financial difficulties was first opened in 1958. It was previously used for functions such as wedding receptions, shows and parties and was the home for many community groups in Alcester.
