By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
Nottingham City Council says it is on target to reopen Nottingham Castle in June – and a ticket price announcement is due “in the coming days”.
The historic site closed last November when Nottingham Castle Trust announced it was going into liquidation just 18 months after a £33m revamp project was completed.
Control of the castle was then handed back to the Labour-run council, which has since been tasked with devising a plan to fully reopen the site before the end of June.
Two preview events have already been hosted, including a live-streaming of the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla, which took place on Saturday, May 6, as well as a streaming of the royal concert on the Sunday.
Providing an update on May 11, Cllr David Mellen, the leader of the council, said: “It is still on target to reopen in June.
“There will be an announcement about prices fairly soon.
“I was there on Sunday night watching the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle and people were there in the rain watching the Coronation the day before and it has sold out this week for the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night.
“In the coming days we will announce the pricing and the opening arrangements.”
According to the council, up to £2.13m has been earmarked for the reopening plan over the financial years of 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26.
The current business plan, which has not been made public, is currently estimated to cost £1.886m, and any surplus budget will be returned if it is not used.
Discussions on whether to keep the attraction in-house, or eventually outsource the running of the site to the private sector, are also taking place.
A hybrid partnership between public and private sectors will also be considered.
The authority also pledged to open the grounds up for free at least three days a year, as detailed in its manifesto, which was published before the local council election on May 4.
Annual passes providing discounted entry are also being planned.