What’s on in Oakham can flourish under The Victoria Hall’s new manager
The new manager of a community venue wants it to be the beating heart of a vibrant entertainment scene.
Melanie Palmer loves The Victoria Hall in Oakham, having owned and run a business just around the corner for several years.
And so when a job came up to handle its day-to-day running and events bookings, she jumped at the chance.
“It’s the building that I love so much,” said Melanie, who ran BeeBee Beauty in Gaol Street and before that was global account director for Vodafone. “It’s beautiful and deserves its place at the centre of our town.”
Originally named The Agricultural Hall, the venue was built in 1858 as a meeting place for farmers, and also served as a town library. In 1899 the name was changed to The Victoria Hall after the then queen, and it became a charity, which it has remained.
Because it is not a council-owned building, maintenance and repairs are funded through income from room hire and grants, and from donations.
“We’ve had an awful few months,” said Melanie. “The lift broke down, the boiler needed replacing, and the fire alarm system needed work. But with spring arrived more hopeful times and we can finally start to do more with the hall, and offer events that will appeal across the age range.”
Among those coming up are a disco for grown ups on Friday evening (May 9), a family rave on May 24, and tribute acts for Little Mix and Taylor Swift.
Mark Steel will be bringing his ‘Mark Steele’s in Town’ BBC Radio 4 comedy show to Victoria Hall later in the summer, and alternative versions of Shakespeare and Dickens will be performed soon.
“I’m exploring lots of different types of events to see what’s popular,” said Melanie, who is also working on an ‘Oakham’s Got Talent’ event, an evening with a psychic medium, and quiz nights.
“Our new website will be online soon, which will mean people can make bookings online.”
This will mean people can book events tickets more easily and also browse the various rooms within the building that can be hired for private events and celebrations.
As well as the large Ballroom, which has a sprung floor for dancing, seating for up to 160, and a bar run by The Grainstore Brewery, there is the downstairs Gallery for reception-style events, and The Barclays Room for private meetings.
Melanie is overseeing ongoing maintenance to the building, and is grateful to local tradespeople and businesses who can lend support.
“This year my focus is getting the ladies’ and gents’ toilets refurbished, because they are looking quite tired, and getting the interior woodwork a fresh coat of paint,” she said.
“We don’t want gold taps, but I would like taps that work, so the experience people have when they come here is a better one.
“I would also quite like to make little changes that aren’t financial priorities but could make a real difference, such as having the piano that’s upstairs relocated downstairs and tuned up, so that people can pop in off the street and play it. That, I think, would help to bring the place back to life and ensure people remember that it’s here.”
Anyone who can volunteer time or resources towards Melanie’s vision of creating a vibrant venue for Oakham can contact her by emailing manager@victoriahall.org
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