The art deco former theatre escaped demolition, but has been closed since its recent £50m renovation

In many ways, it was the kind of marketing that money simply could not buy. Bradford Live, a new 3,900-capacity, city-centre entertainment venue, was splashed over the pages of local newspapers, made the subject of Facebook groups and even afforded national headlines. Unfortunately, it was for the wrong reasons.

The exceptionally well-restored West Yorkshire concert hall was brimming with possibilities, but was unable to open in November as planned because there was no operator in place to run it.