Nottingham Castle will reopen its gates in June after city councillors gave the go-ahead months after the historic site was closed . Details of some preview events in May have also now been revealed – with a weekend marking the King’s Coronation getting things underway for people to return to the site for the first time since last November.
It comes after the board overseeing improvements at the city council listed dozens of instructions which must be followed if it is to avoid any further Government intervention. Earlier this year, the council was told that they must "determine the future of Nottingham Castle in line with the commercial strategy and without exposing the council to inappropriate risk", giving a deadline of June 30 for this to be complete.
The Nottingham Castle Trust, which had been running the venue since its £33 million revamp, went into liquidation last November. The City Council was handed the historical site back by liquidators for the trust - and the castle has remained closed since.
Are you planning an event for King Charles III’s Coronation? Let us know here
It was also recently revealed the cost to the council in terms of lost income and bills to keep the building going had been £593,000 so far. But a decision was taken by the Council’s Executive Board on March 21 to work towards reopening the whole site in June as part of its Museums and Galleries service.
The Government has now confirmed Nottingham will be one of a number of places around the country to host screenings of the Coronation and the Coronation Concert. The Coronation Day Picnic & Celebration Concert events will take place in the grounds of Nottingham Castle over the weekend of May 6 and 7, it has been announced.
On the Saturday, the Coronation of King Charles III will be broadcast on a giant screen in the castle grounds, where visitors will be invited to bring a blanket and have a picnic. On the Sunday, the grounds will be open again for the screening of the Coronation Concert, broadcast live from the grounds of Windsor Castle and featuring top international acts. Further details will follow in the coming days.
Free Open Days will also take place in May, with final dates to be confirmed - once again opening up the castle grounds, as well as launching the Brewhouse Yard cottages which have not been showcased since the redevelopment of the whole site. The days will feature medieval re-enactments, have-a-go archery and storytelling below the castle from those who lived in the cottages.
Cave tours will also be available, the Nottingham City Council said. Further events and details of admission prices for entry to the castle when it fully reopens will be announced in due course.
Nottingham City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Planning, Councillor Pavlos Kotsonis, said: “It’s great to be able to announce that Nottingham Castle will open again very soon and I’m really excited to see it once again play an important part in the life of the city and be a focal point for celebrations.
“The events we have lined up ahead of the full reopening are a great chance for people to reconnect with the site. This is a site which belongs to the whole of Nottingham and I’m hopeful that our approach, which draws on our successful experience of running Wollaton and Newstead, will first and foremost meet with local approval.
“I have no doubt that Nottingham Castle can also become a destination of national and international importance, just as we had envisaged when the £31m of improvements were completed.”
Peter Knott, Midlands Area Director for Arts Council England, said: “We’re pleased to hear that Nottingham Castle will soon be reopening its doors to visitors – it’s a great asset to the city and a place for people to celebrate the rich history and creativity of Nottingham.
“This much-loved visitor attraction is home to important museum collections, great art and unique historic buildings, and we look forward to it reopening with Nottingham City Council at the helm.”
Robyn Llewellyn, Director, England, Midlands & East at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Having supported the restoration and conservation of this very important historic site, we welcome the news that Nottingham City Council have announced that gates to Nottingham Castle will re-open in June. We are glad to hear of the council’s plans to hold preview events from May ahead of the full re-opening, and are heartened that visitors can enjoy this important beacon of the region’s rich cultural heritage once more.”
The City Council was handed the historical site back by Liquidators for Nottingham Castle Trust which declared itself insolvent last November. A decision was taken by the Council’s Executive Board on March 21 to work towards reopening the whole site in June as part of its Museums and Galleries service.
READ NEXT:
Police name man who died after being hit by car on major Nottingham road
Police and fire service update as road remains closed after huge Mansfield fire
Police release CCTV image after 2 women 'punched in the face' in Nottingham city centre
Nottinghamshire cannabis grower tried to 'hide' among plants in police raid
