Bradford’s newest live music and entertainment venue has a long history as the beating heart of Bradford. This world class venue has 3000+ seated and 3,500+ standing capacity, hosting music, comedy, events and entertainment in the centre of Bradford. The venue now known as Bradford Live opened in 1930 as a 3,318-seat art deco cine-variety theatre. Over the years Bradford Live has been known as the New Victoria, the Gaumont and the Odeon. The renaissance revival style building combined an auditorium with cinema and stage, ballroom and restaurant. Following a period of dereliction, this magnificent art deco building was saved from demolition and fully restored, bringing it back to its former glory as an entertainment hub for the city.
Join us for the reopening of this fully refurbished historic venue in the 2025 City of Culture.
A ROCKING HISTORY From rock royalty to solo superstars, Bradford Live has welcomed some of the world’s most iconic acts to Bradford. Here are five artists who have played our venue over the years:
Buddy Holly, 1958
Graced the stage at the Gaumont during his only UK tour, sadly dying in a tragic accident the year after in 1959.
The Beatles, 1963
Appearing at the bottom of the bill supporting 16-year-old headline singer Helen Shapiro. The band returned in December 1963 to headline two sold out performances and in 1964 to kick off the UK tour.
Dusty Springfield, 1964
Joined a bill with, amongst others, Brian Poole and The Tremeloes and Herman’s Hermits.
The Rolling Stones, 1963 – 1965
The band first played on a bill supporting the Everly Brothers and Little Richard in 1963. They returned the following year and again in 1965, this time at the top of the bill.
Tom Jones, 1968
Played the last ever concert at the Gaumont before the building was closed and converted into a cinema and bingo hall in 1969.
TIMELINE – 95 YEARS OF HISTORY IN THE HEART OF BRADFORD
1930 – The New Victoria opens in the heart of Bradford, a 3,318-seat art deco cine-variety theatre, one of the largest cinemas at its time in the UK.
1950 – Name change to the Gaumont hosting early acts of the rock and roll era.
1960s – Global stars like The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, before and after household success, perform during this decade.
1969 – The Gaumont closes its doors – and changes its name to Odeon Film Centre & Top Ranking Bingo Club
2000 – After the final performance of Chicken Run, the Odeon closes its doors for the final time and stood derelict for over 20 years.
2002 – A grass roots campaign is formed to save the iconic building from demolition, culminating in a hug the Odeon event in 2007.
2013 – Bradford Council acquires the building from the Homes and Community Agency.
2014 – Following a competitive process, Bradford Council awards Bradford Live the rights to develop the historic former Odeon building. Their ambition is to restore and repurpose the building as a modern flexible multipurpose venue hosting live music, entertainment, conferencing, weddings and banquets.
2019 – Bradford Live begins the demolition of the old cinema structures so that the size and scale of the huge auditorium can be seen for the first time in 50 years.
2021 – Construction commences with the appointment of local firm RN Wooler as the main contractor. The architect is Tim Ronalds Architects of London, a firm with an outstanding reputation for heritage buildings with works including the Hackney Empire and Wilton’s Music Hall.
2024 – Practical completion is certified and the site is handed back to Bradford Live and Bradford Council.
2025 – Bradford becomes the UK’s City of Culture and Bradford Live reopens.
Throughout the project, The National Lottery Heritage Fund provided support for a range of Heritage activities including a series of podcasts, a 4-month long exhibition and a book detailing the building’s history between 1930 and 2000.