Heywood Civic Centre has now returned to being one of the town’s primary event and community activity spaces following an 18-month spell as the town’s walk-in testing centre.
From May, visitors will be able to book tickets for an exciting programme of events at the centre as well as hiring the space for their own community groups and private events.
Bookings for events such as Celine Dion tribute act, My Heart Will Go On and Back to the 80’s club night with Martin Kemp will be making a return, and bring back “a sense of normality” to the venue, said Abigail Hindle, Deputy Events and Programming Manager at Your Trust Rochdale
The walk-in facility, which has been in operation at the Heywood site since August 2020 has played an instrumental role in the fight against the pandemic, helping keep the Heywood community safe.
Following an initial pilot phase of just eight weeks, the centre remained a testing site for the entirety of 2021, meaning key events, including the 2021 panto of Cinderella, were moved to different venues within the borough to ensure minimal disruption to the venue’s highly anticipated events programme.
As of May 2022, Heywood Civic has returned to its roots and began delivering a jam-packed programme of events, as well as hosting community events including social groups, family activities and weddings.
Abigail Hindle, said: “We’re really excited to be able to welcome the community back to Heywood Civic Centre, and we’ve got lots of very exciting things in the pipeline.
“We were proud to be able to offer the centre as a walk-in testing facility, and to have been able to play a small part in the fight against the pandemic, but it’s great to be returning the venue to its original purpose.
“The role Heywood Civic Centre plays in the community is really central, and we’re excited to be able to re-launch not only our events, but also to be able to offer the centre as the go-to venue for private events and celebrations.”
Councillor Peter Rush, Elected Member and Chair of Heywood Township Committee added: “We were pleased to be able to use Heywood Civic Centre as a testing facility during such an important time for both our region and the country as a whole.
“It was fantastic that we were able to move the majority of events to Heywood Sports Village, where restrictions allowed, so that our families and sporting groups could continue to benefit from a host of community events.
“We’re delighted to welcome the community back to Heywood Civic Centre and for our residents to begin benefitting from it once more.”
