Bradford Live Tickets

Bradford Live events in a restored city landmark

Bradford Live occupies the former Odeon beside the Alhambra Theatre and opposite City Park. The building originally opened in 1930 as the New Victoria, combining a cinema and theatre with a ballroom and restaurant. It later became the Gaumont before taking the Odeon name.

Designed by William Illingworth, the venue was part of an ambitious generation of large cinemas that also welcomed live entertainment. Buddy Holly, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones are among the performers associated with its earlier concert history.

From closed cinema to live venue

The cinema closed in 2000 and stood empty for roughly two decades before major restoration work began. Construction on the conversion started in 2020, with the main building works reaching practical completion in 2024. The completed venue returned to use in 2025.

Tim Ronalds Architects worked with Bradford Live and Bradford Council on the transformation. The project retained the character of the historic building while giving it a new role for music and entertainment, rather than replacing the landmark with a new arena elsewhere.

The auditorium and smaller performance spaces

Inside the main auditorium, the brick-and-steel structure has deliberately been left exposed. The surrounding public rooms take a contrasting approach: restored plasterwork is finished in a vivid new colour scheme. This combination makes the building's different layers visible rather than presenting every space as an untouched period interior.

Alongside the main hall are a ballroom, a cabaret bar and smaller function rooms. Their different sizes and characters allow the building to accommodate more intimate performances and activities as well as larger shows in the auditorium.

For more live music destinations, explore concerts on TixChoice.

Twin domes and the surrounding city

The building's twin domes remain a defining feature of the street frontage. Red brick and pale terracotta details contribute to its Art Deco appearance, which also draws on Moorish influences. The curved footprint follows the line of the former Brewery Street on a site once occupied by a brewery.

Its position beside the Alhambra places two different eras of entertainment architecture together in the same part of Bradford. City Park provides another landmark immediately across from the venue.

Bradford Live's visitor address is 1 Thornton Road, BD1 2EP. Bradford Interchange provides a nearby bus and rail arrival point, with the final approach continuing through the city centre to the restored venue.