Latest news with #GrandTheatre
CBC
22-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Hefty retrofit bill likely as Enwave plans shut down of more London steam lines
The City of London will likely face millions in retrofitting costs as Enwave looks to decommission more of its downtown steam infrastructure, including a line which heats city hall. Enwave, which owns London District Energy (LDE), told the municipality at the end of April that it would shut down most of its medium-pressure steam lines downtown by Oct. 31, 2026. In a report to next week's infrastructure and corporate services committee meeting, city staff said the reason was that sections of the line were becoming increasingly unreliable despite regular maintenance and "could present safety concerns in the future." City councillors will vote to receive the report for information. The move will impact four city properties, including City Hall, Centennial Hall, the Central Library, and Museum London, the report said. Twelve customers overall will be affected, Enwave said on its website. The Centennial House apartment building will also be impacted. This follows the company's announcement last year that it will decommission a separate low-pressure steam line in the core. It's set to shut down by the end of this month, impacting 17 customers, including the Grand Theatre and the city-owned J. Allyn Taylor building at 267 Dundas St. Converting just the J. Allyn Taylor building from steam to in-building boilers cost at least $810,000, the city said. The Grand Theatre faced a similar estimate, and council voted in August to give the venue $400,000 from the Municipal Accommodation Tax fund to help offset the cost. "Based on our experience, it is likely the total cost to address this issue will exceed $5 million for all affected buildings," city staff write in the report. "As the work to provide an alternative to steam heating is unplanned and not included as part of the adopted 2024-2027 multi-year budget, a source of financing will need to be identified for council approval to support the cost of this work." Converting city hall from steam to hot water heating, or hydronic heating, would be difficult, the report says. Doing the same to Centennial Hall would be very difficult, as steam is used directly in the building's heating coils. City staff say Enwave is assessing the installation of temporary boilers during the notice period until October 2026. One could be located on the west side of city hall, which sits near the end of a steam line branch. Feasible options, timelines, and cost estimates will come after a detailed impact assessment. CBC News reached out to Enwave for comment but did not receive a response before publishing. Jones Entertainment Group, which manages Centennial Hall, referred questions to the city. In a statement on the LDE website, the company says it will work with impacted customers to assist in switching to alternative heating sources. The decommissioning process, it adds, will be structured to minimize customer inconvenience and maintain continuity of service. "We have made sure to provide impacted customers within each respective zone with ample notice to switch to alternative heating systems before the onset of the upcoming winter seasons," the statement says. The company says it's completing an analysis of the remainder of the network. "If our assessments highlight areas that pose safety and/or reliability risks, we will take the necessary actions to either upgrade or decommission those sections to uphold the safety, integrity and efficiency of our service delivery to customers," the LDE website reads. No members of city administration were available to comment Wednesday. "There's a high-pressure line. I do not necessarily foresee anything coming up in the future from that, from what Enwave has informed us," Ward 13 Coun. David Ferreira said Wednesday. He hesitated to comment further, as the city is still assessing impacts. Enwave and LDE provides chilled water for cooling and steam for heating to city hall, Centennial Hall, the Central Library, Museum London, RBC Place and the J. Allyn Taylor Building. The current service contract between the city and company dates to 1992. Previous figures on Enwave's website say it serves at least 60 customers, including St. Joseph's Hospital and University Hospital, and operates 10 kilometres of steam pipes. It also operates three kilometres of chilled water pipes, which will not be impacted.
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Huge UK seaside town named Britain's cheapest staycation spot with £82 hotels
Boasting seven long miles of soft golden sand, a recently refurbed Grand Theatre, acclaimed funfair and plenty of arcades - this iconic seaside town has remained one of the UK's cheapest Explore one of the UK's most famous seaside resorts this summer, without breaking the bank. With rising council tax, soaring energy bills, higher road tax and even a more expensive TV Licence - jetting off to the likes of Spain and Greece suddenly seems unaffordable for many households. But, you don't need to travel far to find seven miles of soft golden sand, a whopping 500ft tall tower, an acclaimed funfair - and class entertainment. Looking out onto the Irish Sea, Blackpool ticks all the coastal must-haves for a cheerful staycation, and has kept its prices competitive. There are endless rows of arcades, Fish & Chip shops, and a hefty £350 million investment that is slowly turning the town around, after its pristine reputation started to falter after the 'Benidorm boom'. It's no surprise the town's tourism figures are rising, with 21.5 million holidaymakers flocking to the town in 2023 - a six per cent spike from the year before. New data from Aqua found a staggering 76 per cent of Brits prefer to take at least one staycation per year, instead of dealing with bustling airports and long security queues every time they want a few pints under the sun. The credit card brand has therefore analysed UK staycation spots based on accommodation costs, search volume, weather, and more - to find the cheapest hotspot. Charging guests as little as £82 per night, Blackpool came out as a clear winner. "This classic seaside town offers great value without skimping on fun, with attractions like Blackpool Pleasure Beach, the iconic tower, and lively promenade," Aqua stated. "It's ideal for families or couples seeking a traditional beach break on a budget." For those unenthused by funfair rides and sunbathing on the beach, extensive restoration and repairs have recently been completed on Blackpool's historic Grand Theatre following a £450,000 grant from Arts Council England's Capital Investment Programme. The Grade 2 listed building is hosting a slew of award-winning show this year including Dear Evan Hansen and the beloved Grease The Musical. According to reports, The Arts Council award marks the first phase of funding towards a £15 million capital development plan that will future-proof the theatre and the area surrounding it. Most affordable staycation destinations - full list Blackpool - £82 per night Portsmouth - £108 per night Eastbourne - £112 per night Torquay - £112 per night Manchester - £115 per night Plymouth - £118 per night Brecon Beacons - £118 per night Located some 239 miles from London, getting to Blackpool takes around four hours and 37 minutes in the car. However, direct trains can slash the journey time down to less than three hours - and if you're flexible with flights, you can grab single adult fares for as little as £39. As proven by Aqua's research, accommodation in Blackpool is very affordable, and is great for those trying to keep the purse strings tight. For example, a weekend's stay (Friday, June 13-15) at the Fir Trees Guest House will only set you back £54, based on two adults sharing. However, there is a luxury side to town, and those wanting to splash out can stay at the four-star Imperial Hotel for £198 on the exact same dates.
BBC News
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Beverley Knight excited at Wolverhampton stage return after 40 years
Beverley Knight says she is excited to be returning to the hometown theatre where she last performed 40 years ago on her stage Wolverhampton artist will tread the boards at the city's Grand Theatre from 27-31 May for a production of Marie & last performed on stage in a theatrical production of West Side Story at the Grand when she was 12, she widely regarded as one of Britain's greatest soul singers, said she was looking forward to her return to the city. "It's my first time back on this stage - the last time I was here, I was about 12 years of age in West Side Story so I am exceptionally excited to be here playing my hometown," she told fans through the theatre's Facebook whose many West End performances include Memphis, The Drifters Girl, Sister Act and Sylvia - which won her an Olivier award - said to be cast as Sister Rosetta in the production was a "great honour". The work tells the story of gospel and blues singer Rosetta Tharpe and her protégé, Marie Knight, played by Ntombizodwa Ndlovu, and features music celebrating Tharpe's legacy in the development of rock 'n' roll. Tharpe herself performed at Wolverhampton's Civic Hall on 26 November 1957. When Beverley Knight was told the news by the theatre team that she would be bringing Rosetta's story back to the city 68 years later, she said: "That's before my parents even came to England, dad came in 1958, I can't believe it."I can't believe she came to my Wolverhampton. This is like gold to me, to know she came, it is everything."It means when we stand on stage and honour her it will resonate even more than it was going to in the first place." Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
CBC
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Come take a tour of the historic Grand Theatre in Indian Head, Sask.
The Grand Theatre in Indian Head, Sask., is believed to be the oldest continuously operating theatre of its kind in Western Canada. It has been the root of entertainment in the small Saskatchewan town for the past 121 years. Now it is participating in the Next Great Save, a Canada-wide competition run by the National Trust for Canada that provides up to $50,000 to preserve historic buildings.
CBC
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
The Grand Theatre hopes to win a Canada-wide competition to repair historic site in Indian Head
For more than a century, residents of Indian Head, Sask., and nearby neighbours have gathered at The Grand Theatre to enjoy everything from silent films and vaudeville acts to modern blockbusters, live performances and community events. Built as an opera house in 1904 by Arthur James Osment using bricks made by a prominent Métis family from the Qu'Appelle Valley, the building needs repairs to keep it safe and accessible. Lisa Horsman, chair of the theatre's board, says it's a huge economic driver for the community located about 70 kilometres east of Regina, bringing business to local stores and restaurants. "It brings people from all over, at least an 80-kilometre radius to our town, which of course drives the economy and our town," Horsman said. "But more than that. It's really been an important piece of our history. The building has huge roots for the Métis Nation in the area." The search to come up with money for the repairs led the board to Next Great Save, a Canada-wide competition that provides an opportunity for communities to win money to protect their historic buildings. Horsman says preserving the building means repairing its flooring and making it wheelchair accessible. "There's a huge step into the washrooms and stalls that a wheelchair couldn't access even if it wanted to. There's also no place in the theatre to park and sit in a wheelchair," she said. "It's just not safe or accessible and that's not acceptable." Horsman feels a personal attachment to the theatre. "Once you become involved with the theatre, it really steals a piece of your heart," she said. "There are so many things that I've done here with my family, with my classroom at school. I lead the local drama club at the elementary school. We have our productions here, so there's just so much a part of me here and so much a part of the community here. "My big hope for this place is that my grandchildren will get to enjoy it the way their grandparents did." Megan McEwan, a member of the board, says the theatre has been community owned since 2014. "The Grand Theatre is so special to our community," she said. "It really holds the stories of how our community has gotten to be where it is today. "To preserve our heritage buildings, is to preserve the stories of what makes a community unique. This is where a lot of people had their first dates, this is where many teenagers had their first job. For myself, as a parent, this is where my kids saw their first movie …" The closing day for voting in the competition at the Next Great Save website is April 17.
