The Brindley Arts Centre is a good venue. It's fairly small but this allows for some intimate gigs. We recently went to see Tim Minchin the comedian there and it was a great show. We were sat in the balcony but had a great view and didn't feel too far removed from the performer. The seating is very comfortable, although I would not recommend paying any extra for a box, as they didn't seem to have such good seating in, nor did they have a particularly good view. The arts centre puts hosts a variety of shows to suit all ages and tastes, and offers a bar area downstairs and a family friendly cafe area upstairs offering snacks and drinks both before the show and during the interval. The toilets were clean and despite the number of people, there were no queues. On problem with the Brindley is its location. If you are coming over from Chester then driving is really the only option. The alternative is either a silly 1.5 hour train journey or a 20 minute train journey and then a bus. read more

I work at The Brindley in the cafe! Unfortunately I agree with the other two reviews that public transport in Halton is abymsal. luckily I drive otherwise it would be very difficult to get to work. If The Brindley had a better location, like closer to a train station or even in Widnes maybe, it would draw in bigger crowds. Unfortunately though, people do not want to go to Runcorn Old Town anymoe. Of course I am biased towards the cafe! We serve a lovely range of food throughout the week to the public, including paninis, jacket potatoes, soup of the day, toasties, omelettes and a daily special such as spagetti and meatballs, lasagne, stuffed peppers, etc. We also serve starbucks coffee and it overlooks the canal which is lovely in the summer when there are baby ducklings on it and you can sit outside enjoying a nice meal. It's all very good value too. The theatre itself is quite large and adequate enough to serve Halton. There are pantomines on in January, starring Sinbad from brookside and Bif from emmerdale! There are also a variety of activities you can go to, such as banjo classes, dance classes for children, photography courses for adults, etc. The gallery area is lovely and airy with some interesting exhibitions on that change regularly. read more

Having typed a long comment on another review, I realised I should have just added my review in the first place. This is about fifteen minutes drive from where I live, and quite easy to find for strangers. It is an excellent venue for shows of many kinds - I have seen folk groups and plays here, both excellent. I have heard from others that the art exhibitions and other types of event are equally wellorganised and presented. Unfortunately, the Brindley suffers immensely in that you have to live in the centre of old Runcorn or drive to it. The public transport is absolutely atrocious. The main Runcorn station doesn't run trains to Warrington - the centre of most of the Northwest's motorways and rail links. The buses run until about 20.30, then it is hit and miss whether you see another bus until 08.00 in the morning. Add to this that Runcorn is a decent beer desert, apart from the single Wetherspoons which has now opened in the centre. read more