The Corn Exchange is Exeter’s largest city centre venue with Comedy, Dance, Music and much more. The theatre, business, music and entertainment venue is located in the heart of centre and offers a full and diverse programme of events and shows. The Corn Exchange is conveniently situated for good public transport links and parking, and nearby plenty of pubs and restaurants for the Exeter dweller.
The current building opened in 1961. On two days a week, the first floor (called St George’s Hall) was used as a corn exchange and as an events hall; on other days, the ground floor became St George’s Market.
In 2007, the venue had a partial upgrade with the old toilets being replaced and retractable tiered seating being introduced. It was renamed Exeter Corn Exchange, recalling its original use, and this transformed the venue, changing it from what was basically a large community hall which hosted the occasional show to become an important part of Exeter’s cultural scene, as promoters took note of the city’s ‘new’ venue.
In 2020, the city council commissioned a report to consider the need for a new major venue for the city; the report highlighted that the best option would be to completely redevelop the Corn Exchange into a new, large, multi-purpose venue. The onset of Covid 19 and the resultant financial pressures on the Council meant that this couldn’t be progressed. A new venue for the city does, however, remain an aspiration for the city council when conditions make this possible.
