Cabinet approves £10million Investment in Venue Cymru

Cabinet approves £10million Investment in Venue Cymru

The draft plans for the £10million Venue Cymru Futures project were approved by Conwy County Borough Council’s Cabinet at Coed Pella on Tuesday (08/07/25)

The UK Government funding, which is subject to a final Business case, will help safeguard the future of Venue Cymru, the library service and tourism information as well as creating a cultural hub for the communities of Llandudno and beyond.  

The investment will be used to modernise the theatre technical infrastructure; to replace the seating and air handling system in the auditorium, as well establishing an inclusive and accessible cultural hub to better serve the local community, library users, visitors, cultural professionals and theatre patrons.

Cllr Nigel Smith, Cabinet Member for a Sustainable Economy, said: “I’m really pleased to support this investment in Venue Cymru, as the project will be a welcome boost to the local economy.

“The proposed work will sustain and create jobs in the short term and help to safeguard and grow jobs in the future by delivering cost savings alongside improving the facility.

“Just as importantly, by giving improved access to arts and culture all under one roof, it will also help sustain our much-loved Venue Cymru, Library Service and Tourist Information Centres for the benefit of all our residents and visitors.”

As part of the project, the Council is proposing to relocate Llandudno Library and the Tourist Information Service to Venue Cymru. This will provide a fully accessible ground-floor space; offering improved services and extended opening hours for the wider community

With around 200 performances and 800 conferences and events, Venue Cymru generates about £38million in economic benefit for the regional economy each year. 

The redesign will help safeguard both the area library and Venue Cymru’s place as a premier cultural and events destination in North Wales as well as delivering cost savings of over £100,000 per year.

"I’d like to thank all my fellow councillors for their contributions to the discussions at Cabinet and Scrutiny Committee" said Council Leader, Cllr Charlie McCoubrey.

“I think we all understand that libraries and Tourist Information services are hugely valued by our communities.  Councils across the UK are having to make tough decisions, but we’re taking action to safeguard and modernise library services in Conwy and bring them closer to arts and culture.”

The draft Business Case for funding has been submitted to UK Government.

Plans for the Venue Cymru Futures project will be put on show in Venue Cymru, Tourism Information Centre (TIC), and Llandudno Library in the coming months.