Portobello town hall has functioned as the heart of Edinburgh's seaside community for over 100 years, but in December it was revealed that it was facing an uncertain future as Edinburgh city council were unable to afford a £1m repair bill to restore it to its former glory.
The town hall was still in use until the property was forced to close on 1 July 2019, after the ceiling was found to be deteriorating - putting people at risk of being hit by falling masonry.
At the time of its closure, locals launched a Change.org petition to save it, saying:
"Portobello Town Hall is over 100 years old and has been sadly neglected by successive administrations over many decades. It is now in a perilous state and requires major repairs and refurbishment to make it fit for purpose.
"It is not only an iconic part of the Portobello streetscape but a city-wide asset that has been used as a venue for almost every type of entertainment, public meeting and social gathering imaginable over the years.
"The longer this building is left to rot, the more expensive it will eventually be to repair. Portobello is enjoying a renaissance and the Town Hall could and should be the centrepiece of Edinburgh's Seaside. It has huge potential and the time to act is now before health and safety concerns force it to close. The money required to save it must be found before it is too late." The petition now has nearly 2000 signatures.
Today, Invest Edinburgh - the business development wing of Edinburgh city council- tweeted:
"Are you interested in taking out a long lease of #Portobello Town Hall in #Edinburgh, providing a sustainable future for this iconic historic building? The 21,668 square foot building includes the ornate Main Hall, capable of seating 450 theatre-style. Contact us for more info."
After a meeting in December to discuss the town hall's future, organisers shared a Facebook post that said:
“A community workshop was held that discussed a variety of options for the future of the Town Hall, and interest was expressed multiple future options, like a social enterprise or charity running it, or a community group, in a hybrid model, where the community had the opportunity to shape and work with a future tenant of the town hall."
Could you be the person to take this beautiful building into the roaring twenties? Contact invest@edinburgh.gov.uk if so.
