Historic old ballroom and nightclub consumed by fire

A significant fire has broken out at a former ballroom that had been converted into a nightclub in West Yorkshire. The incident occurred at Venue 73, previously known as the Ritz Ballroom, located in Brighouse, on Saturday evening.

Photographs from the scene reveal severe fire damage at the back of the building on Bradford Road, which has remained unoccupied for the past five years. Authorities from West Yorkshire Police confirmed that sections of Bradford Road and Bonegate Road were closed to traffic due to the extensive blaze.

A police spokesperson urged the public to avoid the area while firefighters work to bring the fire under control and advised nearby residents to keep windows and doors shut because of the smoke.

The building, which opened in 1937, has had a varied history, serving as a cinema, bingo hall, and hosting The Ritz Ballroom from 1981 until 2017. In 2017, it attracted media attention when the Ritz Hotel demanded a name change under threat of legal action. The ballroom ceased operations later that year and stopped hosting live music in February 2020.

In August, a planning application was submitted to Calderdale Council proposing to demolish the structure and replace it with a Starbucks drive-thru.

Author: Lucas Grant