Kitchen facilities at Accrington Town Hall have come under fire after not being included as part of a £750,000 upgrade.
The Observer revealed last week how the council will start work later this month with a refurbishment of the building including a new ‘Pals Bar’, performance area and ballroom floor.
Council bosses said they want to make the Town Hall more cost-effective and attract more conferences, lectures, weddings, parties and entertainment events.
However, Independent councillor Nick Collingridge said top-class kitchen facilities are needed to attract big events and would boost income for the venue.
Speaking at a recent cabinet meeting, he said: “Nowhere in the plans does it say anything about a new kitchen.
“One of the things we always have is when caterers go in there they complain about the lack of facilities.
“It needs a fully-equipped kitchen.
“Some of the big money is to be made in food and it would add to the profitability of the scheme.”
Council leader Miles Parkinson said they had brought in consultants to work on the plans and decided a full kitchen wasn’t necessary.
He told the meeting: “We did have architectural plans for a kitchen but advisors said ‘why would you want that’?
“What you find with most outside caterers is they will bring cooked food in and it’s about keeping it warm.
“Why have a full kitchen range of ovens and grills when they don’t want it? They want to bring in their pre-cooked food and just warm it up.
“During the normal day time it will be cold sandwiches and pastries and, maybe in the evening, the odd sit-down meal.”
The refurbishment is set to take 18 weeks and will be completed in stages to minimize disruption.
However, the last two weeks will see the ballroom out of use the new floor is installed.
