As part of the wider regeneration and development taking place in the City of Wolverhampton, its historic cultural venues are undergoing major refurbishment and construction works to further boost the city’s visitor economy. The Grand Theatre was last refurbished approximately 20 years ago and all bars, seating and other areas of the building were looking tired and dated. The Theatre Board, as a charitable trust, applied for grant funding from the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership. It received £400,000, which was matched by the theatre’s landlord, City of Wolverhampton Council, plus a further £240,000 to replace outdated, worn seating. In Late 2015 the theatre set about producing a brief to transform it and bring back the opulence of the 1920s an era, when theatres were at their peak. There was also a corporate entertainment opportunity to factor in, with a view to increasing revenue. Improved seating would also increase comfort levels during shows.
