The Plaza Northwich is listed as an asset of community value

Earlier this year, The Friends of The Plaza group submitted an application to list the iconic Witton Street building as an asset of community value.

Buildings can be listed if their main use benefits a community's social well-being or interests, such as culture, sport or recreation, and is likely to do so in the future.

And on February 22, Cheshire West and Chester Council approved the application.

Rupert Adams, the chairman of the Friend of The Plaza group, said: "Having the building listed as a community asset is just the first, but an important step, in our plans for the future of The Plaza.

"Importantly we’re working closely with the current owners of the building and will be discussing our ideas with potential partner agencies and organisations over the next few months."

Listing the venue as an asset of community value means should the building be put up for sale, community groups would be given six months to raise the necessary funds, develop a business case and bid to buy the asset on the open market.

Built in 1928, The Plaza is a grade II listed building designed in the neoclassical style as a cinema by William and Segar Owen.

In the late 1960s, it became a bingo hall and remained as such until 2011, when it closed due to rising running costs and a decline in the popularity of bingo.

The Plaza, which is in the long-term ownership of the Godfrey family, remained shut until a small group of volunteers worked with the owner to reopen the venue.

Initially under a temporary event licence, the building opened in 2019 for music and theatre events.

The Plaza featured in Three UK's 2023 advert (Image: Three UK)

The volunteers continued working behind the scenes and since 2021, now operating under a full premises licence, The Plaza has regularly hosted sold out music and theatrical events of more than 800 attendees, as well as holding community and special events as part of Visit Northwich’s programme.

And last year, now restored to its former glory, it even featured in an advert for Three mobile.

A Friends of The Plaza spokesman added: "The building is an iconic venue which has had an important role in the history of the town.

"There is currently limited infrastructure for cultural activity to be developed and delivered in Northwich and The Plaza has made and continues to make a significant contribution to the local cultural scene.

"The Plaza plays an important role in supporting grass roots cultural activity, employment and opportunities for local creatives and enabling new talent to be developed.

"The Friends group is developing proposals for the future of the Plaza with a view to protecting its iconic features while exploring opportunities to create new and innovative uses for the building.

"The wider public will have opportunities to view, respond to and influence the proposals along the way."