Stunning pictures of restored stained-glass windows give a glimpse of the remarkable transformation happening at The Exchange which will reopen later this year, following a £1.5m facelift. Chair of Trustees, JJ McGregor has confirmed that the team are on track to reopen the building before Christmas when The Exchange will be operational. Fundraising will continue…
The team working on £1.5m renovations at The Exchange have released photographs of hitherto unseen areas dating back to the cinema in the 1920s. Builders have discovered the back of the ‘cheap seats’ entrance to the cinema which has been mentioned in recollections as being a route to the first two rows, referred to in…
Stakeholders, Volunteers and Supporters Update: Christmas 2024 A message from JJ McGregor, Chair of Re:Source I would like to share some important news, as we look ahead to 2025 and the exciting developments in store for The Exchange. Over the last few years, The Exchange has been the venue for a diverse range of…
The Exchange has announced the next phase of its regeneration journey thanks to a £1.5m grant from Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, part of £20 million of new Government funding secured for the borough to support town centre priorities. Over the next 12 months, access improvements will include a new 8 person lift which will…
History detectives piece together the remarkable story of The Exchange The story of the early years of Blackburn’s most iconic building has been brought to life by two volunteers with a passion for local heritage. The Exchange: The Foundation Years has been written by Howard Foy and Chris Walton and is being produced with funding…
Blackburn’s most iconic building will play host to an inaugural brick show when The Exchange on King William Street hosts a free exhibition of LEGO® models on Saturday 11 May 2024 from 10am – 4pm. Organisers, Northern Brickworks are coordinating the display of creations brought by fans of LEGO® from across the region, including Star…
STEP INTO SPRING: Walk an indoor mile at The Exchange A pop-up indoor track has been created at The Exchange in Blackburn town centre as part of a community health promotion campaign dubbed ‘Step into Spring’. On weekdays throughout March, workers in the town centre and other visitors are invited to use the weatherproof space…
Our £9m redevelopment plan has been approved! We’re delighted to receive the news that our planning application has been approved by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. Operations Director, Caer Butler said: ‘We are delighted with the successful outcome of the approval for The Exchange’s whole building application. This momentous moment enables Re:Source Blackburn, the charity…
Following extensive consultation, research and design expertise, we’re delighted to announce that the planning application for our £9 million redevelopment of The Exchange has been submitted to Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. This is a major milestone on our journey. Our grand plans include:- The lower ground floor – formerly Tiggi’s restaurant – redeveloped for…
Historic Christmas Tree Festival appeal for Decades of Decorations Blackburn’s iconic Exchange building, known to many as the former Apollo cinema, will welcome hundreds of visitors to the stunning town centre venue when it stages a free Christmas Tree festival bringing together community organisations, schools and local businesses. The event is the first of its…
Final preparations are underway for this history-making festival which showcases some of the brightest new talent on the live music scene. With just two days to go until Confessional 2023 starts, it will be held again in the historic Grade II-listed former Cotton Exchange in Blackburn, opposite the Town Hall. Usually a single-day affair, the…
It was a privilege to interview and film 95 year old, George Hughes from Blackburn who shared his memories of coming back from serving in Egypt just a few weeks after the reopening of the Majestic in November 1953 when he came to see Dracula. He regaled tales of all the cinemas in the town…