If there is a single building that reflects Swindon’s confidence, cultural ambition and unresolved heritage challenges, it is the Locarno. More formally known as the Corn Exchange and Old Town Hall, it has served many purposes during its lifetime and remains one of Swindon’s most recognisable landmarks.
The building began life in the early 1850s as Swindon’s Old Town Hall, at a time when Old Swindon was still the town’s centre rather than the railway works below the hill. It housed local government, courts and market activity, combining practical use with civic symbolism.
In 1866 the complex expanded with the addition of the Corn Exchange and the Italianate tower that still dominates The Square. The development reflected confidence and ambition, with Old Swindon asserting itself as a market town of regional importance.
Today, the Corn Exchange and Town Hall are Grade II listed. The designation recognises their architectural and historic value, but it also brings strict conservation requirements that have complicated efforts to secure the building’s future.
When civic functions moved to the new Town Hall in 1891, the building adapted. By the late nineteenth century it was operating as a theatre, reportedly accommodating around 1,000 people.
In the early twentieth century it briefly became a roller skating venue, before reopening in 1919 as the Rink cinema. After the Second World War it entered what many remember most fondly, reopening as the Locarno Dance Hall.
During the 1950s and 1960s it became a major social venue in Swindon, hosting dance nights and touring acts. Later bingo use followed, but by the mid 1980s the building had closed and fallen vacant.
The site has been owned since 1999 by local businessman Gael Mackenzie, who also owns the Old Town bar ‘Mackenzies’. This means the Corn Exchange has remained in the same private ownership for more than twenty five years.
Two major fires marked a decisive turning point. The first, in May 2003, caused serious damage to the already vacant structure. A second fire in May 2004 compounded the destruction, leaving large parts of the listed building roofless and exposed.
From that point, the Corn Exchange shifted from being a difficult heritage asset to a long-term structural and financial liability. Each year of exposure increased the cost and complexity of any restoration.
Over the past two decades, there have been repeated proposals and negotiations, none of which have delivered a viable scheme. A development agreement signed in 2016 was later terminated after deadlines were missed.
By the early 2020s, Swindon Borough Council was openly discussing enforcement options, including the potential for compulsory purchase if progress was not made. The council also acknowledged that restoring the listed building on its own was unlikely to be financially viable.
As a result, adjoining land, including nearby car parks, has increasingly been discussed as part of a wider regeneration opportunity. The approach reflects financial reality rather than principle, with cross-subsidy often required to support heritage restoration of this scale.
National heritage campaigners have highlighted the Corn Exchange as an example of a listed building trapped in prolonged limbo. Fire damage, decay and the absence of a credible development scheme have all contributed to its current state.
A verified source has confirmed that a hotel developer is preparing plans for the site. However, similar proposals have circulated since early 2024, and no planning application has yet been submitted.
Hotel use has repeatedly been cited as one of the few options capable of funding the extensive restoration required. This is why it continues to feature in discussions, particularly when linked to surrounding land that could improve viability.
At present, the position remains unchanged. There is no submitted planning application, no publicly named developer and no council report confirming a proposal.
Local business leaders say patience is running out.
Kris Talikowski, Chair of the Old Town Business Association, said the coming months would be decisive.
“If a developer comes forward with a credible planning application in the near term, that would be genuinely welcome,” he said. “But this site has been talked about for years without resolution. There has to be a clear deadline, and if it is missed, the council should be prepared to pursue a compulsory purchase order.”
“This is one of Old Town’s most significant heritage assets. Leaving it in limbo undermines confidence, investment, and pride. The people of Swindon deserve a clear, time-bound plan for what happens next, not another open-ended promise.”
The Corn Exchange has survived more than 170 years of reinvention, two major fires and decades of neglect. Its future now depends on whether long-standing discussion finally turns into action.
Whether the outcome is a hotel, a mixed-use scheme or compulsory purchase, continued indecision is no longer a neutral option.
The Locarno holds a special place in most Swindonian’s hearts. For us, it’s the place where we met and we have our 60th Wedding Anniversary coming up next month. I would personally love to see it restored as a hotel/restaurant.