Bradford's Loading Bay arts venue to reopen later this year

A CITY centre arts venue that welcomed tens of thousands of people during 2025 will re-open later this year.

Loading Bay was a “pop-up” venue that was a major part of Bradford’s City of Culture celebrations last year.

The venue included a 200-seat theatre, gallery space and a basement performance space.

It attracted over 40,000 visitors during 2025, but closed in December as the year long celebration drew to a close.

Now Bradford Culture Company, the independent charity behind Bradford’s City of Culture year, have announced that Loading Bay will re-open in May.

The building, which is based on Piccadilly and Duke Street, is a former storage building for the old Marks & Spencer store on Darley Street.

Last year it hosted events including an exhibition based on Bill Bailey’s Extraordinary Portraits, a residency by Bradford magician Steven Frayne (former Dynamo) and photography exhibitions looking back at Bradford’s Caribbean and Ukrainian communities.

Loading Bay is not the only City of Culture venue that will be returning.

The Beacon was another pop up venue that toured four parks across the District during Spring and Summer.

Bradford Culture Company has today announced that Beacon will once again be touring Bradford Communities starting this Summer.

It has previously been announced that after 2025 Bradford Culture Company is continuing as a smaller and more focused operation.

A statement from the group said: “A key element of Bradford Culture Company’s programme is the reopening of Loading Bay in May.

“One of the standout successes of last year, the multi-storey venue hosted exhibitions, theatre, international dance, live music, supper clubs, as well as cabarets and comedy nights, welcoming over 40,000 people through its doors.

“The Beacon, a temporary, community-focussed venue, is expected to return in Summer 2026, subject to planning permission, with a programme co-created by local people.

“Expect family takeovers, arts and crafts, live music, poetry and dance.

“Community ‘find-out-more’ sessions will take place once planning permission is secured.

“Bradford Culture Company will also continue its highly successful volunteer programme, supported by funding from Allwyn, creating new roles for people to welcome audiences, act as Bradford ambassadors and help deliver events behind the scenes.

“Alongside these confirmed plans, Bradford Culture Company is actively fundraising to grow the programme further, creating more opportunities for local artists and ensuring people of all ages across the district can continue to shape and take part in cultural life.

“Bradford Culture Company will further embed its Bradford Made history and heritage learning resources into schools and education settings, and in partnership with the wider cultural sector, strengthen pipelines for young people’s progression into the creative industries.”

Further information on upcoming activity will be announced in the coming weeks.

Dan Bates Executive Director and Shanaz Gulzar Creative Director of Bradford Culture Company “Given the massive public response to our UK City of Culture venues, which were true Bradford 2025 highlights, we’re delighted to share that Loading Bay will be reopening adding to the growing city-centre cultural offer with a programme announced soon, and our plans to bring The Beacon back to Bradford too.

“Delivering the year was an honour and we’re excited to harness the energy of what was created and ensure that Bradford continues to be shaped by arts and culture. The ongoing success of Bradford will be, as our year was, people-powered in collaboration with the artists, organisations and communities that make our district such a fantastic place.”