Manchester Town Hall Restoration Enters Final Stages Ahead of 2027 Reopening

The extensive restoration of Manchester Town Hall is moving into its final phases, with the Grade I-listed landmark on track to reopen in spring 2027.

Manchester City Council has released a progress update confirming that the project remains within its revised £524.8 million budget. The building has been closed to the public since 2018 to allow for the comprehensive structural and cosmetic overhaul.

Exterior work is largely complete, including the installation of more than 160,000 replacement slate tiles sourced from Cumbrian quarries. Scaffolding is now being dismantled, with the first full removal occurring along the Lloyd Street elevation.

Inside the Victorian structure, heritage chandeliers have been hung, and the Great Hall's organ is currently being reassembled. The council's report notes that radiator installation has started on the seventh floor, and the building is now permanently powered by the Civic Quarter Heat Network.

However, significant interior work remains. Construction teams are still completing state rooms, mosaic restorations, new lifts, and kitchen facilities. Once the main works conclude in 2027, a testing and fit-out period will follow before the doors officially open.

The project has faced significant delays and rising costs since its inception. Initially slated for completion in 2024 with a budget of approximately £330 million, complications discovered during the heritage restoration forced the council to extend the timeline and increase funding.

Deputy council leader Garry Bridges described the building as a national treasure and highlighted that the refurbished town hall will feature a dedicated visitor centre detailing the site's history. The adjacent Albert Square partially reopened in April, allowing the public to view the newly revealed clock tower during recent civic events.