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Forfar's Reid Hall will be welcoming the Angus public next month for its first event as an entertainment venue following its most recent role as a vaccination centre.

The first concert to take place will be by Tayside Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, February 11 - a fitting start as the orchestra was one of the last groups to perform at the hall in February 2020.

Originally founded as a community hall by Forfar Provost Peter Reid over 150 years ago, the building has been closed since March 2020, initially due to Covid restrictions and thereafter in use as a vaccination site. The NHS moved to new premises at the end of October, and ANGUSalive and Angus Council have worked closely to pull together necessary remedial works for the reopening.

Audrey Hood, ANGUSalive theatre and venues manager, said: “The Reid Hall is a fantastic, versatile community asset which has been greatly missed. The varied programme of activities which usually take place will now return along with private events such as weddings, birthday parties, charity events and concerts.”

Tayside Symphony Orchestra will welcome the hall back to full public use.

The orchestra is celebrating its 30th birthday this year, having been formed by its first conductor, the late Ron Walker, to raise money for Chest, Heart and Stroke. Originally meant to be a one-off event, the orchestra is still going strong.

The concert, ‘Reid Hall Return’, will feature local soprano Maggie Findlay, performing a selection of songs by composers including Bizet and Lehar. The orchestra will also play selections from the shows ‘Carousel’ and ‘Showboat’ as well as a tribute to the popular composer Irving Berlin.

Bill McLeod, orchestra chairman, said: “With the concert being the first public event to be held in the hall since it closed for the pandemic will make the occasion extra special.

"The orchestra, like so many other organisations, has had to make an extended break over the pandemic, and we were so happy to get back to rehearsing and performing last year. Now we’re back ‘home’ and are really looking forward to performing a wide variety of orchestra music in the Reid Hall in the months and years ahead.”

Information about hiring the hall for any event or booking tickets for the concert can be found at www.angusalive.scot.

Concert heralds hall's return to public use