08 Apr 2023
The dance floor is empty, the music has gone quiet, and the drink long since stopped flowing. But although St Albans’ iconic Club Batchwood no longer exists, what of the hall itself?
Back in October 2021 the district council announced the lease was up for grabs on the vacant Batchwood Hall, which had last been used as a vaccination centre during the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Built in 1874 for Edmund Beckett in the Queen Anne style, the manor house has served a variety of uses over the years.
It was a private estate until SADC purchased the property in 1935, building an 18-hole golf course in the grounds.#
From the 1970s, the property was home to St Albans’ largest nightclub, Club Batchwood.
But the impact of the pandemic took its toll on the venue, and a spokesperson sadly announced: “2020 hasn’t been the best year, and sadly Club Batchwood has closed its doors.
“Thank you to everyone who visited, partied, worked and enjoyed Batchwood over the last 40 years. We really appreciate it.”
When the search for a new tenant was revealed, a strategic review suggested a new high-quality pub-restaurant with letting rooms would appeal most to the local community, as well as visitors to the adjacent Batchwood Leisure Centre and golf club, which collectively receive up to 700 visitors per day.
Marketing material from specialist business property advisor Christie & Co described the substantial three-storey building as quiet yet well-connected and surrounded by landscaped park land.
It said the site offered significant scope to develop a stunning destination which complements the historic fabric of the building, just minutes from St Albans city centre.
Tim Widdows, business agent in Christie & Co’s licensed hospitality team, said at the time: “Following a refurbishment programme, this historic property could be reimagined to be the one of the highest income-generating and unique properties in the area.”
SADC estates services manager Tom Hardy added: “This is a rare opportunity for both the council and a future operator, it is not often we are able to offer a lease for such a historically significant building.
“Batchwood Hall is much loved locally and there is huge scope and potential for the right operator to create something rather special, further enhancing what is on offer at the Batchwood estate.”
Following this initial flurry of publicity, things went quiet, but now a spokesperson for SADC has confirmed that negotiations with a prospective tenant are continuing, although refused to be drawn on any details.
What sort of timeframe exists for the building reopening is still difficult to establish, but hopefully it won’t be too long before Batchwood Hall opens its doors once again.
