The Drill Hall

The new entrance to the refurbished Drill Hall is now on Free School Lane, next to the Library.

There is 24 hour monitored car parking in the Broadgate Car Park. Please note that there is a one-way system, going north up Bank Street and south down Free School Lane.

Drill Hall

The History of the Drill Hall

The Drill Hall was built in approximately1890 to provide a base for training and exercise in police and military drill. It was funded by Joseph Ruston, a leading local industrialist. it became redundant as a military building and was passed to the care of the Ruston Drill Hall Trust.

The Trust ran the Hall for a range of social and community purposes, with revenue generated from external hire. Bookings included social clubs and popular music concerts. During World War 2 many high- profile Jazz concerts were staged at the Drill Hall. Many up-and coming bands, including the Rolling Stones, have preformed there.

Eventually, the building fell into disrepair, and in December 1999 had to be closed when electrical systems failed the required safety tests and the building was unable to meet health and safety standards.

For the past three years the Drill Hall has stood empty and disused. Following its closure, the City of Lincoln Council received a petition from over 2,000 people seeking its re-opening as a multi-purpose venue.

In 2000 the Council allocated major project funding to the Drill hall and in 2003, together with other Trust Members has secured some £2million to deliver Lincoln's aspiration for a cultural venue.

The venue will offer a variety of lettable spaces supported by modern toilet and changing facilities. There is a large foyer with adjacent bar, a box office and the main entrance has been reversed and transferred to the west end of the building to lead in from Free School Lane across a new, landscaped courtyard.

At the heart of the venue is a new auditorium, a flexible space capable of a multitude of configurations, with a maximum seated capacity of 364 [with 212 raked seats] and a 700 open/standing capacity. State of the art sound and lighting installations are backed up by an in-house technician.

For anyone not on the New Jazz 5 mailing list who requires more information or detail about the new Lincoln Drill Hall, such as access, car parking, location etc., contact John Holland on Tel: [01522] 529717.