Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent

Victoria Hall is a concert hall in the heart of Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, standing on Bagnall Street at the centre of the city's Cultural Quarter. Built in 1888 to mark Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee and originally an annex to Hanley Town Hall, it now seats 1,467 and is run by ATG Entertainment, which also looks after the nearby Regent Theatre. The programme leans towards touring music, comedy and one-night concert events, and the hall has welcomed names including Paul Weller, Morrissey and Jimmy Carr. A 1999 extension added a modern foyer and step-free access throughout.

Victoria Hall opened in 1888, built to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria the previous year. It was constructed as an annex to Hanley Town Hall in red brick and terracotta, to designs by the local borough surveyor Joseph Lobley.

Music has been central to the building from the start. Edward Elgar conducted the first performance of his cantata King Olaf here, and in 1996 Donald Hunt led the BBC Philharmonic and the Ceramic City Choir in a revival marking the centenary of that premiere. The hall's organ, a four manual instrument, was originally presented by the local businessman George Meakin, who acquired it in Yorkshire. It was rebuilt and enlarged in the 1920s and has been modified more than once since, with recent work aimed at restoring its 1920s tone.

The room once held as many as 2,800 people on wooden forms and benches. As proper seating replaced them the capacity came down considerably, and today it stands at 1,467.

Because it began life as an adjunct to the town hall, the building originally had very little in the way of front of house space. That was addressed by an extension opened in 1999 as part of the creation of Hanley's Cultural Quarter. Interlinking with the hall, it provided a new entrance and much better facilities for audiences and performers alike, along with access for disabled visitors to all parts of the house. More recent history includes Slash's live album Made in Stoke 24/7/11, recorded in the hall.

Getting in and moving around

Access to the venue is completely step free, and a glass lift serves all levels. All stairwells have handrails. The passenger lift takes wheelchairs up to 78cm by 140cm, with a total weight limit of 630kg including the customer.

• Designated wheelchair spaces on all three auditorium levels: 4 in Upper Circle Row B and 4 in Circle Row D, both reached by lift, plus 2 in Stalls Row H and 2 in Stalls Row S, both reached on the flat from the foyer.
• Step-free seats in the Circle at Row C 9 to 34 and Row C 56 to 81, and in the Upper Circle at Row B 27 to 34 and Row B 60 to 67. All Stalls seats are on a flat floor.
• Accessible toilets in the Foyer, the Circle bar, the Upper Circle bar and the Sponsors Room.
• Low level counters at all bars, with at-seat service before the show and during the interval (not available for standing events).

Assistance dogs

are welcome. Staff can look after your dog during the performance if arranged in advance, or the team can make sure your seats have space for the dog to stay with you.

Sensory support

The hall has an infra-red hearing loop system and can provide headsets, and supports Mobile Connect. Audio described performances and touch tours are advertised on the show page where available; Stalls seats are recommended for anyone who wants a closer view of the stage. A visual story is available to help first-time visitors prepare.

Booking

Accessibility assistance is available on 0333 009 5399, or via Typetalk on 1800 1 0333 009 5399. ATG's free Access Membership Scheme lets you book accessible seats online and, where eligible, essential companion tickets.