Owners of Spalding’s Sessions House apply for Spalding Town Board funding to create public garden, building improvements and cultural programme

A public open day is taking place to help shape the vision of a historic building becoming a premier hub for arts and culture.

Andrew Blach and Erika Yao owners of Sessions House in Spalding’s Sheep Market, are hoping to undertake a number of changes at the Grade II listed building, including creating an al fresco coffee and wine bar.

The couple have applied to Spalding Town Board, National Lottery and Arts Council for funding to help create a public garden along with installing lifts and a new heating system.

The former courthouse was listed as a key event venue within the Vision for Spalding document, which outlines the town board’s proposals to spend the £20million Plan for Neighbourhood cash to rejuvenate the town. The consultation for this finished earlier this week.

The couple have promised to deliver a cultural programme and are inviting the public to an event at the Sessions House on Friday, November 7, to help share ideas about the building.

Mr Blach said this was the launch of a new chapter for the building to help create a ‘a powerful engine for Spalding's cultural and economic regeneration’.

He said: “We feel this building plays a role in the community.

“As custodians of this place you feel that this isn't just another building in the centre.

“This building is different and with a front area, green space, and an outside cafe, it is going to bring visitors to the town.”

The court house, designed by Leicestershire-born architect Charles Kirk and built by Booth and Walker, of West Yorkshire, was the focus of justice in the area for more than 150 years after it opened in June 1843.

It was delisted by the Courts and Tribunal service in 2013 before being purchased by Oliver and Dorota Sneath in 2016 when it was transformed into an events venue.

Andrew and Erika - who is the current Spalding Flower Parade Queen - purchased the building last year, which was put on the market for £1million, and are continuing with the successful events and wedding business.

Now they are proposing to create a non-pofit Community Interest Company (CIC), which will be governed by an independent, community-led board, to deliver the cultural programme.

A briefing document outlines proposals to hold a ‘year round, professionally curated calendar of arts and cultural events, including exhibitions, performance partnerships with local groups, and educational access for schools.’

This document states that the this CIC would be granted a 20-year preferential lease which would guarantee access to the historic rooms and grounds for 50% of the year with priority access Monday to Wednesday, shared access on Thursdays and a minimum of 25% of high-demand weekend dates.

It also states that the ‘single largest action’ would be to transform the hard standing at the front of the building into a new public green space and that its year round cultural programme could help tackle anti-social behaviour.

The briefing also states that the plans could help encourage footfall between the Sessions House and Spalding Gentlemen’s Society in Broad Street, which is also listed as a ‘heritage court’ in the town board’s vision.

Mr Blach said: “The success of the community focus relies on ensuring the space is accessible, usable year-round, and properly equipped.

“Installation of a lift is the single most critical priority to ensure access for all residents.

“Transforming the front car park into a high-quality public amenity, an efficient heating system and equipping the courtroom with professional sound and lighting to create a high-quality, performance-ready venue.”

Mr Blach added: “The wedding and events side continues to be our main focus and is going from strength to strength.

“As part of that, we're about to launch an al fresco coffee and wine bar in the courtyard to enhance the visitor experience.”

The open day will provide the opportunity for residents to share in their desire to improve the town centre by exploring what kinds of events and activities people would like to see both inside the historic rooms and in the grounds for relaxing and socialising.