The 202-year-old Wellington Rooms building is undergoing urgent repairs funded by Liverpool City Council and Historic England. Work is expected to take six weeks to complete.
The Grade II-listed neo-classical building has been close since 1992 and is suffering from a leaking roof and dry rot.
Place were initially approved in 2002 for the structure to become a function suite, however this was never implemented. An application for it to become a hotel in 2006 and 2007 were rejected because of the detrimental impact of a three storey extension, and throughout this period the building was deteriorating.
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While the repairs take place, Merseyside Building Preservation Trust is also consulting with local shareholders and businesses on the results of an options appraisal of the building and, in partnership with Liverpool City Council, is hoping to secure a development partner by the summer to oversee the full restoration of the building.
Deputy Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr Ann O'Byrne, said: "The Wellington Rooms are right at the top of our priority list for action. It has an amazing history and is hugely important to the people of Liverpool. These urgent repairs are the start of a long journey to return it back to its former glory, but we are now starting to make progress in working with partners to identify a deliverable a sustainable end use."
Charles Smith, North West Assistant Planning Director and Heritage at Risk Principal Adviser at Historic England, said; "Historic England is delighted to be co-funding these urgent repairs to the Wellington Rooms, which is in the top 8% of the most important historic buildings in the country.
"As a much-loved venue for weddings and events, it has featured in the lives of many Liverpudlians over the past 200 years. These repairs will stop further decay and help to bring about a new use for this quality building that the city can be proud of."
(LM/MH)
