By the late 1860s, it was considered too small, and civic officials decided to commission a larger building on a site once occupied by the Black Bear Inn.

[3] It was designed by Richard Reynolds Rowe in the Gothic Revival style, built using bricks cast in a variety of colours and was officially opened on 6 November 1875.

The central bay, which was slightly projected forward, featured an arched doorway flanked by foliated pilasters supporting voussoirs.

The building was refitted following public pressure and various grants and donations, with the first concert taking place on 3 December 1986 starring Boxcar Willie, though an official reopening occurred the following February with a performance by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

[2] Performers at the venue have included David Bowie (1966),[8] The Who (1969),[2] Syd Barrett (1974),[8] Freddie Mercury (1974),[8] Lemmy (1979),[8] Def Leppard (1980),[9] Johnny Cash (1988),[8] Take That (1992),[2] Oasis (1994),[2] Victoria Wood (1996)[8] Jimmy Carr (2005),[8] Lily Allen (2007),[10] Manic Street Preachers (2008),[2] Adele (2008),[8] John Cleese (2011),[8] and Paul Weller (2015).