A Llandrindod Wells institution celebrates a huge milestone later this month as the Albert Hall turns 100.

The iconic venue was built in 1896 as a church, but was converted into an entertainment venue in 1922.

And though it has endured its ups and downs over the last century, battling the threat of closure and constantly fighting to raise funds, not to mention being closed for over a year in 2020 due to the pandemic, the Albert Hall is thriving in its 100th year.

The venue is celebrating throughout 2023 but on Thursday, July 20, it will be putting on a special open day celebration event to mark the occasion.

The anniversary will be marked at 3pm, the exact time it opened its doors 100 years to the day, with the open day then taking place between 4-7pm.

Jon Williams, chairman of the hall management committee, said while speaking to popular local blogger Simon ‘Jungle’ John: “We’re celebrating 100 years of the Albert Hall as a theatre and cinema on July 20.

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“It’s the big anniversary and we’ll be throwing our doors open from 4pm so anyone can come and have a look around our beautiful theatre, have a chat and learn some history about this place.

“It used to be a church, which seated 800, then in 1922 it was converted into a theatre and cinema. A cinema screen has just been re-installed.”

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After the First World War, war, membership of the local Presbyterian church began to decline, and the hall was no longer needed. The committee instead decided that a theatre and cinema would be of value to the town.

So, in 1922, work begin to convert the Albert Hall. It officially re-opened in its re-purposed for on July 20, 1923, at 3pm. 

A foyer, with art deco detailing, designed by Owen Morris Roberts & Son, was added. The exterior of the building, foyer and auditorium remain to this day much as they were then.