THE return of a cherished community hub in Christchurch has been confirmed after being closed for more than two months.

Trustees of Druitt Hall were forced to temporarily suspend hirers from using the facility in March due to safety concerns.

After a thorough structural assessment and completion of repair works in the venue's ceiling it is now back ready for use.

The official re-opening of the hall off High Street is on Wednesday, June 27, which will coincide with an event to mark 65 years since it was opened back in 1953.

Trustee Chris Guest previously feared the costs of the works could spiral and the hall would be out of action for many months.

However, after enlisting the work of a local builder, he said he was delighted to be able to tell users of the hall about the re-opening date.

"The builder was really conscientious, on time and to the agreed price," Mr Guest said.

"We have insulated over the ceiling while we were up there and are in the process of cleaning the outside roof surface.

"It was nice because the builders wanted to help get the place re-open again. They live locally and were very concerned with doing it properly and safely.

"The building certainly still has a good few years in it yet."

The event on June 27, which runs from 2.30pm to 5pm, will give them an opportunity to show members of the public what they do and provide an overall flavour of what goes on at the facility on a day-to-day basis.

Trustees had hoped to hold the anniversary celebration 65 years to the day it opened on June 3, however the closure prevented this from taking place.

Before the closure in March, around 25 groups regularly made use of the hall, and Mr Guest said the majority are set to return.

"The hirers are very pleased to hear the news. A lot of them are very keen to get back to the hall," Mr Guest added.

"Most of them are coming back, but some are staying with the venues they used while the hall has been closed."

A range of fundraising projects are in the pipeline to recoup the expenditure from the repair work.

The trustees are also looking to expand their team and anyone interested in getting involved is asked to contact druitt.hall@gmail.com.