Salisbury's local radio station comes home

Saturday, 14 March 2026 12:38

By Staff Writer

Craig Hicks in Studio 2 of Salisbury Radio's City Hall Studios

The original ‘City Hall Studios’ of Spire FM on Malthouse Lane are currently being modernised by the city’s local radio station Salisbury Radio.

Management and staff at Salisbury Radio are currently busy building offices and broadcast studios including a live radio studio and a 4K digital television studio for podcasts.

City Hall originally opened as a cinema in 1937, and was subsequently bought by the city council in 1961 in memory of local second world war service mem, re-opening in 1963. It closed in 2020 because of the Covid pandemic and reopened last year by Justin Britchford from Wiltshire-based entertainment firm MECA.

Radio station founder David Harber says, “I first worked at City Hall in the mid-90s and am so grateful to Justin and his team to help us recreate the ‘Spirit of Salisbury’ in its very spiritual home.

“The dusty, old analogue studios on the upper floor of City Hall were built by Spire FM back in 1992 and next month, they’ll reopen as the modernised, digital home of Salisbury Radio.

“Many of the faces and voices known to Spire FM listeners like Ceri Hurford-Jones, Ian Burrage, Pat Sissions and Matt Rogers are among our broadcast team, all of whom are being very nostalgic about returning to their broadcasting roots".

MECA boss Jason Britchford adds, “As part of our commitment to bringing live entertainment back to Salisbury here at City Hall, we’re excited to accommodate Salisbury Radio upstairs here; back where local radio in the city started.

“Their DJs will join the likes of The Beatles, David Bowie and Led Zepplin who have previously performed live at City Hall.

“We’re proud to support the radio station that has a commitment to promoting events not just here at City Hall, but also those at The Playhouse, Arts Centre and the many pubs and live music venues across the city.”

Salisbury MP John Glen will officially re-open the ‘City Hall Studios’ on Friday 17th April when local business owners and community leaders will be invited to tour the modernised studio location and learn of plans for this year’s Salisbury Local Hero Awards.