Spotlight on... ROPERY HALL

Photo credits: Romy Morgan

Welcome back to our series where we shine a light on some of the most unique and quirky independent theatres. This time we are focusing on Ropery Hall in Barton, which is certainly a unique theatre as it is housed at one end of the longest Grade II listed building in the country!

Name: Ropery Hall

Location: Barton-upon-Humber, Lincolnshire

Number of seats: 120

Year opened: 2000

Ropery Hall is a small, intimate venue that hosts theatre, live music and cinema events. It is situated at one end of the Ropewalk, a one-storey building that is a quarter of a mile long, and is also home to several galleries, a museum, art studios, meeting rooms, workshops and a coffee shop. There is also a sculpture garden outside, so there is plenty to do if you want to make a day of your trip.

But why is this building so long? Well, it was built in 1767 by William Hall for, in case you haven’t guessed from the name, making ropes! The building was then called Hall’s Barton Ropery and they made ropes there until 1989. You can find out more about the ropery at the museum.

The venue end of the building features not only a lovely performance space, but also a cosy bar selling drinks and snacks with quirky decor, including a tardis and a paper pterodactyl hanging from the ceiling among other things, and a great atmosphere. Of course, they also stock the theatre staple - ice cream!

The hall has an eclectic mix of different events going on throughout the year, with something to suit everyone. They have shows from big names in comedy, including Rosie Jones, Susan Calman, Phil Jupitus, Tom Allen, Rob Beckett, Ivo Graham and Gary Delany, to name a few. There is also live music, spoken word, film showings and traditional theatre including a production of A Christmas Carol this winter.

Ropery Hall is definitely worth a visit and can even be hired for events and performances, often playing host to local youth theatre showcases alongside their regular programme. You should definitely check out the rest of the Ropewalk too if you are planning a visit to this unique little piece of industrial history.

For more information, please click here.