SIV shortlisted for Scunthorpe Baths Hall contract

Leading leisure operator Sheffield International Venues (SIV) has been shortlisted to take over the management of one of Lincolnshire’s top landmark entertainment and leisure venues.

The Baths Hall in Scunthorpe, which is currently undergoing a £16 million redevelopment, will provide a state of the art, multi-purpose entertainment venue, capable of hosting a range of conferences and events, including live performances from top class entertainment acts.

SIV is one of the North’s leading entertainment groups, operating Sheffield City Hall, which won the Large Venue award at the 2009 Insider Business Tourism Awards and the 2009 Welcome to Yorkshire White Rose Excellence in Business Tourism Award.

SIV’s portfolio also includes the Sheffield Arena – venue for the recent BBC Sports Personality of the Year and concerts by some of the world’s biggest bands and entertainment stars.

Steve Brailey, chief executive of SIV, said: “We are delighted to be shortlisted for the opportunity to operate this landmark entertainment and leisure venue for North Lincolnshire. The Baths Hall is synonymous with Scunthorpe, just as the City Hall is with Sheffield, where we operate an exciting and diverse line-up of concerts, events and shows.

 “Our aim, working with stakeholders, will be to put the Baths Hall back on the map as an exciting entertainment venue, as well as a location for high profile business events and conferences.”

The new auditorium at the Baths Hall will boast a standing area for up to 2,000 people and seating for 1,000. Conferencing facilities, a ticket office and a bar and café area will create a diverse and adaptable venue, offering wider community use in order to maximise footfall.

SIV has a solid track record of managing a range of venues, operating 14 facilities throughout the city, and hundreds of local, regional, national and high profile international events attracted thousands of visitors to Sheffield.

Their multi-million pound events programme using SIV facilities across Sheffield boosted the city’s economy by more than £12m during 2009. The company also announced record sales figures of £24m for 2009 - a substantial 10 per cent rise on the previous year.

The shortlist also follows the announcement that SIV were successful in clinching a contract to assist LIFE (Lakeland Initiative in Fitness, Excellence and Wellbeing) with the management of the LIFE Swimming Pool and Leisure Centre in the Lake District.

Construction work will begin on the new Baths Hall development in April 2010 and is due to be completed in the summer of 2011.