The £ 31 million redevelopment of Nottingham Castle will help the city’s “rival York” once it opens to the public for the first time in late June.
On Tuesday June 1st, Nottingham City Council Chairman David Mellen presented the old keys to the castle grounds to the Nottingham Castle Trust, a non-profit charity that will soon be opening its doors to the public for the first time.
The handover takes place after three years of painstaking restoration work, financed by the city administration, the Erbe Lottery Fund, the Castle Foundation, the Arts Council and D2N2, which have been in work for almost 11 years.
Professor Ted Cantle, chairman of the Castle Trust Board, spoke to Nottinghamshire Live to emphasize how he believes the project will help the city compete with those already on the list of avid international tourists and travelers.
“The original Schloss working group was founded in 2011 and the first task was to develop a concept that could unite people,” he said.
“There was a lot of thought about a Disney program, but we wanted something that was really attractive and that people would love.
“We could never have demolished the castle and changed our heritage, so we have to make the most of what we have.
“It’s a really compelling scheme. It tells the true story of Nottingham and the events that shaped national history such as the Chartism movement and the Luddites.
“It’s going to create a new visitor economy for Nottingham. We’ve been able to create something that can rival places like York and Warwick.”
Open to the public from June 21st of this year, people from the city and beyond can experience everything the castle has to offer.
These include a Sherwood Hideout adventure playground, an interactive Robin Hood experience and the caves, plus an air-conditioned gallery and museum area at Ducal Palace, located on top of Castle Rock.
The air-conditioned palace will also make it possible for the first time to present all the famous international exhibitions right here in the city.
An all-electric land railway, which Professor Cantle says is the only one of its kind in the country, will also be able to transport people around the castle grounds for easier access.
Professor Cantle says all there is left to do now is remove some of the construction equipment and do other finishing touches like hanging artwork in the galleries.
Cllr David Mellen, Chairman of Nottingham City Council (center right) hands the keys to Nottingham Castle to Ted Cantle, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Nottingham Castle Trust (center left), alongside Nottingham’s Official Robin Hood Tim Pollard (left) and the Lord Mayor of Nottingham cllr David Trimble, in the grounds of Nottingham Castle
(Image: Joseph Raynor / Nottingham Post)
The Brew House Yard should be completed and open to the public by the end of the year.
Councilor David Mellen, who handed over the keys to the lock foundation, said it was an honor for him to hand over the operation for the grand reopening.
He told Nottinghamshire Live, “These three years of dedicated work have improved the building while preserving every piece of history but using modern technology to improve it.
“We see Warwick Castle commercials on TV, but I think it’ll be just as good.”
Councilor Mellen added that the long-term plan is to offer a season ticket that allows Nottingham residents to visit as much as they want without having to pay full price each time.
Nottingham’s Robin Hood, played by Tim Pollard, called the event “auspicious” as the opening is only a few weeks away.
General admission prices range from £ 9 for children, £ 13 for adults and from £ 22.50 for families, with a ten percent discount available for residents with Nottingham postcodes NG1 to NG9 and NG11.
Certain activities such as the interactive Robin Hood Adventures and castle cave tours incur additional costs.