Blackfriars in 2026: Looking Ahead
Blackfriars Priory has been part of Gloucester’s story for centuries, and for the past 13 years, it’s been at the heart of ours too. It is an English Heritage property, but for over a decade has been operated by the Gloucester City Council culture team as a venue for weddings, events, and community gatherings. From May 2026, the Council has proposed that that arrangement will change. Blackfriars will no longer be run directly by the Council, but it will remain an English Heritage asset.
This is an important shift, but it’s not the end of Blackfriars as a place for people to gather and celebrate. The building is beautiful, right in the city centre, and has so much potential. We’re hopeful that English Heritage will find new ways to protect and use this remarkable space so that it continues to play a significant role in Gloucester’s cultural life.
Blackfriars has also been home to the Gloucester History Festival for many years - a nationally recognised event that brings thousands of people together to share ideas and stories. We’re pleased that the Spring 2026 edition will still take place here, and the Council will support the festival in finding a new venue for its September event and onwards.
For those who have booked your weddings or events at Blackfriars, thank you for the trust you have placed in us. Please know that your plans really matter to us. If your booking is affected by the Council’s proposed changes, our team will contact you directly with clear information and support.
In the meantime, Blackfriars is still open for Christmas. All festive events are going ahead as planned: candlelit concerts, Christmassy ghost stories, and more, in this incredible medieval setting. If you’ve never visited, now’s your chance. Find all our events here.
We want to thank everyone who’ve attended events here, and especially those who’ve trusted us to deliver their weddings. Being part of some of the most special days of your lives has meant so much.
The Blackfriars Priory team
If you would like to contact us, as we’re expecting a large number of customer and supplier queries, please use blackfriars@gloucester.gov.uk. All members of our small team can access this mailbox so we may be able to respond more quickly.