WORCESTER'S premier music venue is on the hunt for cash for an extensive upgrade programme.

Historic Huntingdon Hall, in CrownGate, has applied for a Heritage Lottery Grant.

It is hoped funds totalling £100,000 can be secured to pay for new seating, a new PA system and other additions to enhance the interior of the 18th Century building.

Originally built as a Methodist Chapel, the Grade II Listed building has hosted top acts including Joan Armatrading, Midge Ure, Rick Wakeman and Acker Bilk since it become a concert hall in 1987.

"We have a shopping list all the time of things we want to do and can't afford," said the hall's director, Chris Jaeger.

"We've applied for everything on the shopping list that we've wanted for sometime and hope they see fit to give it to us."

Mr Jaeger said, previously, Heritage Lottery had only given grants to save actual buildings but, earlier this year, it had "moved the goal posts" and now accepted applications for projects to make a listed building financially stronger.

A major portion of the money - around £40,000 - would go towards replacing the hall's sound system, which has become increasingly inadequate over the years.

"The sort of artist we now attract means we constantly have to bring in a PA system much bigger than the one we've got, which has financial implications because we have to hire it," said Mr Jaeger.

"But also, because the equipment is so huge, we inevitably knock walls and chip pillars, so there are structural implications as well. We've got a strong case if they see it like that."

The other major job would be increasing the seating capacity along the sides of the raised gallery area, which would also cost in the region of £40,000.

Other improvements would include new stage curtains, a permanent kiosk in the foyer for merchandise sales and a new phone system.

Huntingdon Hall has had a colourful history. In 1977 it was almost knocked down to make way for a car park, having sat empty since 1970, but supporters resisted this move.

During the next 10 years, the Worcester Preservation Society raised more than £1m and a major renovation programme was carried out.

During this time, the society held concerts in the hall to raise money and it was then that the venue's great acoustics became apparent.

Mr Jaeger spends much of his time seeking sponsorship and grants and organising fund-raising. At every concert, a raffle is held, which raises £5,000 each year.