After years of delays and setbacks, Bradford’s long-awaited music and events venue, Bradford Live, is finally gearing up to open its doors in autumn 2025. Set to be a cornerstone of the city’s UK City of Culture 2025 celebrations, the venue promises to breathe new life into one of Bradford’s most iconic buildings. At a recent press event, representatives from Trafalgar Entertainment, the new operators of Bradford Live, joined council leaders to discuss their ambitious vision for the venue, one that balances global entertainment with local community engagement.
For Trafalgar Entertainment, known primarily for its theatre and cinema operations across the south of England and Australia, Bradford Live represents an exciting expansion into the live music and events space. Co-founder Howard Panter explained how the company’s existing work in live entertainment makes the venue a natural fit for their portfolio. “We work with musicians all the time, from producing the Coldplay film to running live events. Bradford Live is an extension of what we already do-bringing together live music, comedy, and education work. The prospect of young people working on stage in a professional environment is something we’re really excited about.”
However, the venue’s success will hinge not just on star-studded acts, but on how well it serves Bradford’s diverse population. With South Asians making up around 30% of the city’s residents, the venue’s programming will need to cater to this significant audience. When asked about plans to attract South Asian artists and events, Panter acknowledged the importance of reflecting the community’s tastes but was keen to avoid a siloed approach.
“We want to cater for a South Asian audience, but on the other hand, we want to cater to all people,” Panter said. “Some South Asian audiences are fantastic and need as much special entertainment as people that love, I don’t know, a classical Mozart concert.”
“We absolutely want to connect with the South Asian audience we’re already talking to some acts but what we don’t want to do is separate South Asian entertainment from everything else. Audiences are multifaceted. Yes, Bollywood concerts will be part of the plan, but South Asian audiences deserve the same variety of world-class entertainment as anyone else. That’s why we’re keen to hear directly from the community about what they want to see.”
Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe, described the venue as a vital piece of Bradford’s long-term regeneration. “This isn’t just about one building,” she said. “It’s part of a wider cultural revival that will bring jobs, investment, and pride back to Bradford. Over the next 25 years, Bradford Live is projected to contribute £600 million to the local economy. Culture doesn’t stop at the end of 2025-it continues and builds because this is who we are.”
While enthusiasm was high at the event, there’s no denying the frustration many residents have felt over the project’s delays and lack of transparency. The previous operator, NEC Group, pulled out after years of involvement, casting doubt on the venue’s future. Hinchcliffe acknowledged those concerns but insisted the council’s partnership with Trafalgar Entertainment would deliver. “We’ve got a major operator signed up now. That should give people confidence. There’s real momentum behind Bradford’s regeneration, and this venue is going to be a big part of that.”
Bradford Live is set to play a key role in the UK City of Culture 2025 celebrations, with the council and City of Culture team working closely with Trafalgar Entertainment to integrate the venue into the programme. Dan Bates, Executive Director of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, said: “We have been planning some events for a long time, knowing that at some point this building would be ready. At the moment we are working really closely with Trafalgar to help deliver some of our programmes and some of theirs as well.”
The venue also plans to support young creatives by offering access to its spaces, including a cellar bar located in the old boiler rooms. “I think it’s really important because people have a lot of memories here but it’s also important that whoever plays and performs here should have a broad appeal as well,” Bates said. “We are looking at how we can integrate young creators into our programmes as we go forward.”
Bates added that the City of Culture programme is already developing new talent, pointing to the BBC Music Introducing Live festival hosted in Bradford this week. “It’s a journey to go on and we are excited,” he said.
As the city counts down to 2025, the spotlight is on Bradford Live not only as a flagship venue but as a symbol of the city’s broader ambitions. If the promises made by Trafalgar Entertainment and Bradford Council hold true, this long-delayed project could mark a turning point not just for the building itself, but for the communities it serves.
