Photograph of Cooper's Hall entrance after 1970s renovation, with patrons

The Grade I listed Cooper's Hall was built in 1744 for the Cooper's Company, the guild of coopers in Bristol, by architect William Halfpenny. It was sold by the Coopers in 1785 and was subsequently used as a public assembly room, a wine warehouse, a Baptist chapel and eventually a fruit and vegetable warehouse.

In the 1970s Bristol City Council gifted Cooper's Hall to Bristol Old Vic on a long term basis and it was incorporated into the main Theatre complex as the Theatre 's new entrance and foyer during Peter Moro's 1970 - 192 redevelopment.

During the 2016 - 2018 redevelopment, it was restored to its former glory as the city’s handsomest and most inspiring events space.

This item was digitised by the University of Bristol Theatre Collection as part of Bristol Old Vic’s “Protecting and Sharing the Heritage of Britain’s Oldest Theatre ” project, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.