11/03/2026
THE LINK CENTRE TO OPEN IN MAY 2026
It has been announced that The Link Centre, Ashbourne’s new community hub, will open to the public in May 2026. Led by Ashbourne Methodist Church the project is transforming the existing church buildings on the corner of Church Street and Station Road.
The development of the community hub is one of the two projects which make up the UK Government funded Ashbourne Reborn programme. The Link Centre will provide a wide range of activities for local people and businesses, including concerts, community events and conferences.
The venue will open to the wider public in the second half of May, following a programme of special preview events which will act as a soft launch from mid-April. The Cornerstone Coffee House will remain fully open as normal while the initial programme takes place.
The opening of The Link Centre will mark the culmination of over ten years of work for Ashbourne Methodist Church’s volunteers, who will have successfully raised over £2 million in match-funding towards the development.
The investment in the buildings is very important, but the physical changes funded by UK Government will be brought to life by a varied programme of community, cultural and business events at The Link Centre. With less than three months until it is open, volunteers from the church have already made great progress scheduling a dozen cultural events for the first year, including music concerts and arts events. Details will be revealed on social media and in the press over the coming weeks. Please follow us to keep up to date
Meanwhile, community groups who would like to use the premises for their regular events and businesses who would like to hold conferences and meetings are invited to get in touch. Church volunteers are helping to respond to enquiries and will be able to advise on availability and pricing. Information, including room sizes, can be found on The Link Centre’s website at www.ashbournelink.org.uk
Part of the project is the development of new visitor accommodation, to be called Gateway Lodge. This will enable people to stay in the town centre bringing benefits to local businesses, including the town’s shops, pubs & cafes. will sleep up to 35 people in private en-suite rooms with bunk beds. Visitors will have access to a comfortable shared lounge, dining room and self-catering kitchen. There is also a useful drying room, laundry and secure cycle store. The venue has already taken nine exclusive-use bookings, while it will soon be possible to book individual rooms, ideal for families, couples of small groups of friends.
The church will continue to hold its worship and other activities within The Link Centre, alongside community events, cultural & arts activities, celebrations, and business conferences & meetings. The overall aim is to provide a space for the community to meet, build friendships, support each other and have their lives enriched.
In developing the project, the church partnered with other local community organisations as part of the Ashbourne Reborn programme, which is designed to bring back vibrancy, vitality and economic prosperity to Ashbourne town centre. The whole Ashbourne Reborn programme, which is being led by Derbyshire Dales District Council, has received UK Government funding. Ashbourne Methodist Church will contribute over £2million in match-funding towards the development of The Link Centre, through the generous support of its members, local people and grant-making bodies.
The Ashbourne Reborn proposals originated from businesses and community groups within the town. Ashbourne Reborn is a partnership scheme involving Ashbourne Town Team, Ashbourne Town Council and AshCom, with delivery of the Highways and Public Realm project being led by Derbyshire County Council and The Link Centre community hub by Ashbourne Methodist Church.
To receive email updates, sign up for the newsletter at the District Council website www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk/enewsreg (tick the box for Ashbourne Reborn), or visit the Ashbourne Reborn website www.ashbournereborn.co.uk for the latest news, FAQs and detailed information about the project. To follow on social media, find on Facebook, Instagram.
Images show artist's impressions of: a conference in Trinity Hall, the largest space at The Link Centre; a bedroom in Gateway Lodge; the inside of the new atrium at The Link Centre
