A HISTORIC town centre venue will re-open its doors this week after a multi-million pound renovation.

Visitors to The Met will finally get the chance to feast their eyes on its newly-transformed facilities tomorrow, but the Bury Times was lucky enough to be given a sneak peek as the finishing touches were being added to the centre on Monday.

A £4.6 million facelift began at the entertainment venue in March, the first major refurbishment the building has ever undergone, in a bid to improve and expand its performance spaces, upgrade backstage areas, and enhance audience members’ experiences.

The first thing to greet guests is a spectacular new light installation in the foyer, called Sevenfold, designed by Manchester artist Liz West.

The new-look box office is designed with a soundwave theme that runs through the entire building, while the centre’s old wooden doors have been replaced by a new glass airlock.

A small performance space on the ground floor, which will be known as The Box, has 80 seats and a standing capacity of 80.

Nick Smale, marketing and sales manager at The Met, said: “The Box will be a great room for smaller performances, as well as a space for rehearsals and classes.

“We are really pleased with the new foyer too. It used to be absolutely freezing in the foyer because it just had these wooden doors that led right onto the street, so I think our box office staff will be a lot happier now.”

The centre’s main auditorium has been rechristened the Derby Hall as a nod to the historic title of the building, which was built in the late 1840s.

It now has a total seated capacity of 273 and can accommodate a standing audience of 400, thanks to a new ventilation system and evacuation procedure.

The main stage has also been fitted with new sound and electrical systems, and has a raised alcove for wheelchair users as well as a balcony.

Mr Smale added: “If you talk to people in Bury who have been coming here for a long time, they will tell you about going to a dance at the Derby Hall. Now they will be able to say that again.

“Increasing the capacity is really important, because increased income means that we can be more ambitious with what kind of programming we book. The new electrics also help in terms of being able to put on bigger, more complex shows.

“The bar area is now also much bigger. It used to be split into two rooms, which meant the audience would be very cramped as they came in and filter slowly into the bar. Hopefully it will be a much nicer experience for everyone now.”

The old high-ceilinged first floor toilets have been split horizontally to create two floors, which now house dressing rooms and other performance and meeting spaces.

Other improvements include a new lift, toilets on the ground floor for the first time, and an in-house heating system to replace the old one that was located in the building next door.

The Met will be re-opened in a private reception today before it holds its first show tomorrow night, which will be from North East folk trio The Young’uns.

David Agnew, artistic director at The Met, added: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be welcoming audiences back into The Met less than a year after we closed for extensive refurbishment.

“The spring programme offers a wide range of great music and arts events for people to use as an excuse to come and take a peek.

“From morning family shows to late night DJ sets, the programme of shows and workshops continue where we left off – an award winning venue attracting local and regional visitors to the town.

“The venue is now as good as the programme — in fact its already inspiring the team and artists beyond what was possible before. We can’t wait to see what our audiences think.”