A community group who stepped in to save Elgin Town Hall from closure has hailed its first event a success.
The fundraiser, aptly named Back from the Brink, was the first time the Elgin Town Hall for the Community Group was able to show off the improvements they have made to the much-loved building.
A cocktail bar has been installed upstairs, while the bar has been refurbished and there are numerous other plans in the pipeline to further reinvigorate the venue.
Scores of people turned out for the music and comedy night, which included performances from bands such as Moteh Parrott, Edgar Road and Gordon James and the Power.
Mark Conti, vice-chairman of the Elgin Town Hall for the Community Group and lead singer of Edgar Road, was pleased at the success of the event.
He said: “It was a great atmosphere all night and was a really well-received event.
“It was good to show off some of the improvements we have made within the hall and showcase them on our own night.
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“Acts-wise we had something for everyone, with Moteh Parrott offering an absolutely outstanding both visually and musically set and headliners Gordon James and the Power playing a blinder of a finale.”
The event was also the first time the group had put on the venue since taking it over from Moray Council, and they now hope to make it a quarterly occurrence.
Mr Conti was excited about what the future could bring for the town hall.
He said: “We aimed to raise as much as we could last night and although there is no final tally it looks like we raise a four-figure sum.
“This money can then be ring-fenced to allow us to continue on with our vision to improve the town hall.
“We are going to upgrade the courtyard and revitalise the bar/cafe.
“We’re also aiming to run a big event like Back from the Bring every quarter on our own.”
Community hall closures in Moray
Moray Council announced plans to shut down six community halls in December last year, as they looked for ways to save money.
The cash-strapped local authority introduced proposals that would mean the closure of Elgin and Forres town halls, alongside Buckie’s Fisherman’s Hall.
Dufftown Community Centre, Cullen Community and Residential Centre and the Longmore Hall in Keith were also included in these plans, with the council planning to shut them down by the end of June this year unless community groups volunteered to run them.
Fortunately, community groups were formed in most of these Moray towns and villages to save the venues from closure and lease them from the council until they can afford to take them over full-time.
Elgin Town Hall for the Community ran a successful crowdfunding campaign over the summer to raise £2,500 to help them with day-to-day running costs and they officially took over the hall in August.
Similar success stories happened throughout the region, with community groups rising to the challenge and taking over their town halls.
The Forres Area Community Trust took over Forres Town Hall, with the Longmore Hall Steering Group signing a lease for the venue in Keith back in June.
Cullen Community and Residential Centre and Dufftown Community Centre were both given extra time to get funding in place to keep the venues running but are now both being leased by the community and kept open.