Latest Updates

Bringing the Beat Back to Bradford is a new exhibition at Impressions Gallery looking back on the history of the much-loved building previously known as the New Victoria, The Gaumont, and Bradford Odeon. Don't miss it 5 Nov 2022 to 11 Mar 2023.

The UK’s leading live events business, NEC Group, has appointed Darren Moore as General Manager of Bradford Live, the Group’s latest venue.

As our series of heritage and historical podcasts draws to a close, we are proud to share our 13th and final podcast, "An Everlasting Monument" which depicts the construction of the New Victoria cinema in 1929.

We are delighted to share our 12th podcast where we shine the spotlight on John Philcox, the General Manager of Bradford's Gaumont Theatre between 1957 and 1960. A true Cinema Showman! With thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

This, the 11th in the series of podcasts in association with National Lottery Heritage Fund North, revisits the renovation of the domes to the former Odeon cinema in Bradford and the installation of the two new masts in October 2015.

Bradford Live presents our 10th podcast, recalling Bradford's first Armistice Festival of Remembrance hosted by the New Victoria cinema in November 1936

Bradford Live is delighted to release the 9th in our series of heritage podcasts. Join us as we recall the stars who graced the Gaumont stage between 1953 and 1968.

The 8th in our series of heritage podcasts tells the story of the former Odeon building's troublesome history with Bradford Beck...

Businesses across West Yorkshire are being invited to help breathe life into our new entertainment venue.

The 7th in our series of heritage podcasts shares ten lesser known facts about the history of the former Odeon building now known as Bradford Live.

Here is the 6th in our series of heritage podcasts as we take a step down memory lane with a potted history of sixty years of Saturday Morning Pictures for youngsters at Bradford's former New Victoria/Gaumont/Odeon.

The Bradford Live project is one step closer to transforming the city centre’s former Odeon building into a multi-purpose live events venue, following the appointment of local contractor RN Wooler & Co Ltd.

In this, our 5th podcast, we revisit a magical day in Bradford's history - the UK Premiere of Fairytale: A True Story at the former Odeon on Sunday 8th February 1998.

In this, the fourth of our new series of podcasts, we look back at a long-standing Christmas association that the former Odeon building had enjoyed with Bradford's Cinderella Club throughout seven decades!

In the third of our new series of podcasts, local historian Mark Nicholson reads an extract from his forthcoming book about the history of the Bradford Live building.

In the second of our new series of podcasts, local historian Mark Nicholson reads an extract from his forthcoming book about the history of the Bradford Live building.

In the first of our new series of podcasts, local historian Mark Nicholson reads an extract from his forthcoming book about the history of the Bradford Live building.

On 22nd September 1930, the New Victoria opened in the heart of Bradford. So, it was only right that on 22nd September 2020, we celebrated our iconic building’s 90th birthday!

News announced ahead of iconic venue's 90th birthday.

Last Friday (28th February), Dan Boulger from the NEC Group spoke all about Bradford Live at The Business Desk Yorkshire’s Bradford Business Lunch. If you weren’t able to make it, don’t worry – we’ve got the lowdown for you right here!

From rock royalty to solo superstars, we’ve welcomed some of the world’s biggest and most iconic acts to Bradford – something which we’ll be aiming to do when we reopen in 2021! Here’s five artists you probably didn’t realise played at our venue over the years!

Earlier this week, we took a bunch of very lucky competition winners behind the scenes here at Bradford Live – and because we couldn’t take you all around the building, here’s a little round-up of what went down.

Before you enter our exclusive Hard Hat Competition Tour, please take a moment to read our T&C's.

“With the Bradford Odeon everything will be new for the fans and for the artists with some nice dressing rooms. I am so happy that it has been saved, it makes me happy and I am happy for Bradford.” Read what the Status Quo legend has to say on the restoration of our iconic venue!

During the demolition of Bradford Live we’ve found lots of unexpected features – but perhaps the most unexpected of those features was a trio of kittens!

We’ve spent nine months on the demolition project and now that the steel and concrete partitions that once divided the building have now been removed, we can finally reveal the full, stunning structure of the original auditorium.

The guys at Yeme Architects caught up with the NEC Arenas & The Ticket Factory Chairman, Phil Mead, to talk about why the Group chose Bradford’s iconic Odeon building for its next venture and everything that’s planned for the future. It’s a great watch!

Brand new for 2019, the Bradford Food & Drink Festival takes place this weekend in the heart of the city!

NEC Group Arenas and The Ticket Factory Chairman, Phil Mead, takes you on a journey into Bradford Live, giving you a flavour of what you can expect from our newest venue!

The Bradford Live redevelopment project has been given a boost thanks to a £959,500 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

We’ve teamed up with Birmingham’s NEC Group (the guys who run the likes of the National Exhibition Centre, Arena Birmingham and Resorts World Arena) to deliver a sneaky preview of the new Bradford Live venue to all the big hitters in the city.

As the venue development gets under way we have recently had the amazing opportunity to create a new brand for the Bradford Live venue.

Birmingham based NEC Group sparked excitement this week as councillors, business and community leaders were given a sneak preview of what’s to come in the new Bradford Live venue, during an event at the National Museum of Science and Media.

Bradford Live has today announced that NEC Group International (NECGI), part of Birmingham’s NEC Group, has been chosen as the operating partner for the Bradford Odeon.

This morning, Dara Ó Briain is launching the Theatres at Risk Register 2018 on behalf of @TheatresTrust.

Bradford Live are delighted that the BMDC bid for the former Odeon has been selected by DCMS to receive a £4m share of the Government’s Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund.

This week a collective of world-renowned artists and leading Bradford cultural figures have written an open letter to the Culture Secretary

We are delighted to announce that the rebirth of the former Bradford Odeon cinema into a 4,000-capacity live music, entertainment and events venue has reached a new milestone as we have now exchanged contracts with live events company NEC Group.

Bradford Live, the ambitious regeneration project to transform the city’s landmark Odeon cinema into a world-class music, entertainment and events venue, has appointed Bradford-born peer and social entrepreneur Lord Andrew Mawson as its Patron.

The transformation of Bradford’s iconic former Odeon Cinema into a world-class live entertainment and events venue is one step closer with the submission of a planning application to Bradford Metropolitan District Council.

The decision to grant planning permission for the refurbishment of Bradford’s former Odeon cinema, to create a new 4000 capacity world class live entertainment and events venue, was unanimously approved