St George's Hall

Welcome to one of the UK’s oldest concert halls. Opened in 1853, St George’s Hall is situated in the heart of Bradford city centre.

A people’s palace

Our stunning Victorian Concert Hall was built as a place where the communities of Bradford could gather to be inspired by the world’s best music and entertainment.

Audiences continue to be treated to a wide variety of events, from top comedians to wonderful family shows, fascinating talks and of course great music concerts. With world class acoustics, St George’s Hall hosts a classical music season every year welcoming world-renowned orchestras, including the Hallé to the stage.

To learn more about the history of St George’s Hall, visit our Heritage website.

In 2016 St George’s Hall underwent a 3-year major refurbishment, which was made possible by funding from Bradford Council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

In this section

Our Story

Grand Opening

Opened in 1853, St George’s Hall is a stunning Victorian Concert Hall. It was the brainchild of Bradford Mayor, Samuel Smith, and conceived as a place where the communities of Bradford could gather to be inspired by the world’s best music and entertainment.

Rich and Diverse History

A huge array of black artists and icons have performed at St George’s Hall during its long history, including the Jubilee Fisk Singers, Dizzie Gillespie and Paul Robeson. The iconic city centre venue has also welcomed many LGBT+ icons and performers, such as Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Big Mama Thornton in the 1950s; Bronski Beat and Erasure in the 1980s; and comedians Sandi Toksvig and Alan Carr in more recent years.

Rock and Pop

Many legends of rock and pop have performed at St George’s Hall over the years, including David Bowie, Marc Bolan with T Rex and Freddie Mercury with Queen as part of their first world tour. The 1980’s and 1990’s saw performances from Metallica, Bon Jovi and Take That; and more recently indie rock bands Bastille and The Courteneers have played this historic venue.

Gala Celebration

In 2019 St George’s Hall re-opened to the public after a three-year closure and a multi-million-pound refurbishment, with a gala celebration. Beverley Knight, Sarah Millican, Collabro and Escala performed, as well as some of Bradford’s local groups and artists.