ALCESTER'S Greig Hall will open its doors to the public for the first time in almost eleven years following significant repairs and restoration work.

Greig Hall will host a Christmas Fayre on Saturday, December 4 and it will be the first opportunity for the town’s residents to see inside after Alcester Town Council took over the building.

The Town Council took a long lease of the Hall in April 2021 with the ultimate aim to pass it onto the recently formed charity ‘The Greig Hall’, to be run by the community.

The fayre, which runs from 11am to 5pm, will include Christmas crafts in the main hall with hot food and drink and live entertainment outside.

The Christmas Fayre is being funded through the Welcome Back Fund, from the European Regional Development Fund and the money is managed by Shakespeare’s England on behalf of Stratford District Council.

Work is still ongoing to renovate the building but it is hoped the Hall will be sufficiently finished to reopen in spring 2022.

Cllr Mark Cargill of Alcester Town Council said: “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.

“The Fayre will be a key event not just for the Hall but for all of Alcester. The Greig Hall has been part of the town for decades and many residents still have fond memories of it.

“We hope as many people as possible will come along to enjoy the Fayre and see inside the Greig Hall for themselves.”

The Hall opened in 1958 and was previously used for functions such as wedding receptions, shows and parties and was the home for many community groups in Alcester.

Glyn Slade, Welcome Back Event Manager at Shakespeare’s England, added: "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.

“We’re looking forward to seeing the inside of the Greig Hall for ourselves when it opens its doors.”