Cadbury Concert Hall in Bournville receives significant investment from Mondelēz International

The Concert Hall, which has been situated in the heart of Bournville for 97 years, has received a significant refurbishment and investment of £162,000 from Mondelēz International to mark 200 years of Cadbury.

The doors to the Concert Hall reopened for the first time since 2000 earlier this month on Friday 13 September, as part of Bournville Heritage Day. 650 guests from the local community, including members of the Cadbury family and Bournville MP Al Carns, came together to celebrate and enjoy an unforgettable afternoon and evening of music from a live big band.

Thanks to Mondelēz International’s six-figure investment, over the past few months the Concert Hall has undergone a comprehensive refurbishment, which has introduced state-of-the-art technology and a cutting-edge sound system.

The Concert Hall is a unique space that was opened by Cadbury in 1927. The venue could originally seat 1,050 people and had space for 200 performers on stage and in an orchestra pit. When it opened, the Concert Hall was used by many of the Bournville Works clubs and societies for performances, with the very first performance being a play by John Masefield called ‘The Locked Chest’, which was performed by the Bournville Dramatic Society.

Sarah Foden, Cadbury archivist at Mondelēz International, who has been curator of Cadbury’s history for the past 35 years, commented:

“To see the Concert Hall reopen to the public is truly moving. The venue has been a staple of Cadbury and Bournville’s history for 97 years, and the significant investment into the unique space has ensured that we can preserve its legacy and create new memories here.”

Louise Stigant, UK Managing Director of Mondelēz International and Chairwoman of the Cadbury Foundation, added:

“We’re incredibly proud to have played a part in reviving such a historic venue in the heart of Bournville, which forms an essential part of both this year’s 200-year celebrations and beyond. The Concert Hall has a rich legacy that spans generations, and through this investment, we’ve ensured it will continue to be a unique space for many years to come.”

In addition, as part of Bournville Heritage Open Day (Saturday 14 September), 1,400 people visited the Concert Hall to view the refurbished space and listen to stunning music from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Elgar Scholars Choir and Gospel Truth.

What’s more, during Bournville Heritage Open Day, Mondelēz International also opened its recently refurbished Cadbury archives where 200 members of the local community had the chance to tour Cadbury’s treasure trove of archives for the very first time.