Slap bang in the centre of town lies the Preston Guild Hall. It sits within the Guild Hall shopping arcade with the main access in at ground level from Lancaster Road. Upon entering via that route, you encounter about twenty retail units and for years there used to be a newspaper kiosk at the bottom of the corridor that I frequented regularly to purchase the Lancashire Evening Post. Next to there was a chicken shop called Gabbots Farm (somewhat cruelly renamed Maggots Farm!).
Beyond there, during the 80’s and 90’s was a Morrisons store in the days when supermarkets where more regularly located in town centres. I used to visit their books and record store in the basement and Gill had a weekend job there when at college. It is now an indoor bowling alley/bar called Level.
A side entrance takes you out to Tithebarn Street and in bygone days there were a couple of pubs, the Guild Tavern which latterly became Lionel’s which closed in 2006 and the other being the Jazz Bar, also known as Harrys Bar and Gaiety Bar at various points which closed in 2012. I regularly visited the Guild Tav back in the day.
Up the escalator takes you to the booking office area and a corridor heads off past the Guild Centre (Tower) where I worked for many years. This route continues to a pedestrian bridge over to the Bus Station and car park. The gangway is highly visible from the street below and provides an ample opportunity to do a Dustin Hoffman Graduate impersonation if you were so inclined.
The bus station is a huge seven floor brutalist listed structure and I think still remains as the biggest in Europe. The car park is never full unless the graduation ceremonies are taking place.
I have spent countless hours on that bus station whether departing or disembarking. I quite often used to catch the 11.00 last bus from there where the lights would go down and about 15 buses departed at the same time. I was once 10 seconds late and had to scamper across the apron, vaulted the wall and ran down the market Usain Bolt style to catch it at the next but one stop. Somewhat breathless but content that I had avoided a three mile walk home!
The Guild Hall complex contains three separate venues, namely the Grand Hall (capacity 2034), Charter Theatre (780) and the Foyer (350).
As implied in the name, the Charter is more of a theatre venue and only sporadically had gigs and I never witnessed one there though regretfully did miss Proclaimers playing there. My abiding memory of that venue is being dragged there as a child to watch Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat.
Across from the ticket office are banqueting suites where weddings have taken place and where I have made blood donations in the past before crunching on my custard creams!
Upon entering the actual venue there is a foyer area with a bar and steps taking you up to the Grand Hall. It is an ok venue with a decent size standing area with seats behind.
Aside from music I have attended many different events there, namely school events, one of Gill’s numerous graduations and comedians Peter Kay, Lee Hirst and Ben Elton.
