Gregson Centre

The Gregson began in 1889 as a memorial to Henry Gregson, designed by the Lancaster architects Paley and Austin; a hall was added in 1912. Originally run on temperance lines by the Lancaster Coffee House Company, the building later served as a school hall before becoming a community centre in 1984. After a period of financial difficulty it returned to full charity ownership in 2020 and was refurbished.

Today The Gregson operates as a community and arts centre, live music venue, small cinema and cafe-bar, with a ground-floor hall, function room and meeting rooms. It is a regular venue for Lancaster Jazz Festival and hosts folk, jazz and singer-songwriter gigs alongside community and civic uses.