The ballroom of Pittville Pump Room has been closed after routine maintenance checks confirmed the need for remedial work.

Cheltenham Borough Council is prioritising the work to the much-loved building to ensure long-term safety and enjoyment for all those using it.

A spokesperson for Cheltenham Borough Council said: "Pittville Pump Room is a cherished heritage asset, owned and maintained by the borough council and managed by The Cheltenham Trust.

"The unavoidable decision to close the ballroom to undertake remedial work has been made so the building can be preserved for enjoyment by future generations. However, the immediate priority must be to ensure the safety of users of the building.

"This is a Grade 1 listed building and when issues like this arise we have to make sure that any repairs are done properly to meet the standards set by Historic England. 

"As such we can't give a specific date as to when the Pittville Pump Room will reopen but the council is working as quickly as it can to make sure the building is safe to reopen.

"This decision follows scheduled maintenance checks which revealed the need for urgent work. We are pleased to confirm that the Heritage Café and upper floors will remain open.

"Over the past few years, the council and The Cheltenham Trust have worked to give the Pittville Pump Room a new lease of life. This followed a period where it had been a sadly underused asset. The building now welcomes more visitors each year than it has at any point in recent history.

"We are committed to getting the ballroom reopened as soon as possible and will keep people informed about the progress of this vital work to protect the Pump Room's future.''

An up to date conservation management plan was recently commissioned by the council, at the recommendation of Historic England. This plan is helping to inform the future of the building.

The spokesperson added: "Together with The Cheltenham Trust, we are sorry that event bookings for the ballroom will not be fulfilled while the work is ongoing. Both organisations will attempt to minimise disruption and will identify alternative venues where possible. Anyone unsure about the status of a booking should contact The Cheltenham Trust directly."