Guidance

Courts and tribunals additional capacity during coronavirus outbreak: Nightingale courts

This page holds a list of additional facilities opening to support the courts and tribunals estate during the coronavirus outbreak.

Published 3 August 2020

Last updated 2925 OctoberJanuary 20202021 — see all updates
From:
HM Courts & Tribunals Service

HMCTS is using additional venues to provide increased estates capacity in response to the coronavirus outbreak. These venues have been referred to as ‘Nightingale courts’. They will be used on a temporary basis to ensure as many hearings as possible can continue to take place during the coronavirus outbreak. This page shows the sites that are open and will be updated and published as new sites become operational.

Find the current status and contact details of courts and tribunals during the coronavirus outbreak

Open Nightingale courts

The additional facilities which are currently open are detailed in the list on this page.

Site Address Opening date Business being heard
1East Pallant House East Pallant Chichester PO19 1TY Monday 20 July 2020 Civil work from Worthing County Court and family work from Worthing Family Court
2Prospero House 241 Borough High Street London SE1 1GA Monday 3 August 2020 Non-custodial crime work from Southwark Crown Court. Prospero House - venue and contact information (PDF, 319KB, 2 pages)
Hertfordshire Development Centre3 Hertfordshire Development Centre, Robertson House, Six Hills Way, Stevenage, SG1 2FQMonday 17 August 2020 to 31 August 2020The site was opend to hear civil work from Luton County Court and Watford County Court
Middlesbrough Town Hall Middlesbrough Town Hall, Albert Road, Middlesbrough, TS1 2QJ Monday 17 August 2020 Civil work from Middlesbrough County Court (which forms part of Teesside Combined Court)
4Swansea Civic Centre Swansea Civic Centre, Oystermouth Road, Swansea, SA1 3SN Monday 17 August 2020 Crime work from Swansea Crown Court
5Telford Annex Telford Annex, Telford Square, Malinsgate, Telford, Shropshire TF3 4JP Monday 17 August 2020 Civil and Family work, serving as an annex of Telford Justice Centre
6Ministry of Justice, 102 Petty France MOJ, 102 Petty France MOJ, London SW1H 9AJ Monday 24 August 2020 Family work from East and West London Family Courts
7Former Fleetwood Magistrates’ Court Former Fleetwood Magistrates’ Court building at The Esplanade, Fleetwood, FY7 6AT Monday 24 August 2020 Civil work from Blackpool Magistrates’ and Civil Court
8Cloth Hall Court, Leeds Cloth Hall Court, Quebec Street, Leeds LS1 2HA Friday 28 August 2020 Civil work from Leeds Combined Court
9Knight’s Chamber, Peterborough Cathedral Peterborough Cathedral: Knights Chamber, Peterborough Cathedral Visitor and Learning Centre, 25 Minster Precincts, Peterborough, PE1 1XZ Friday 28 August 2020 Employment Tribunal and Corporate Crime from Luton Crown Court
10Salford Lowry Theatre Salford Lowry Theatre Complex, Pier 8, Salford Quays, M50 3AZ Monday 28 September 2020 Non-custodial Crown Court work and tribunals work, from Manchester Crown Court, Manchester Employment Tribunal and Manchester Immigration Tribunal
11York Hilton 1 Tower Street, York, YO1 9WD Monday 28 September 2020 Family work from York County Court
12Middlesbrough Jurys Inn Jurys Inn, Fry St, Middlesbrough, TS1 1JH Monday 28 September 2020 Family work from Middlesbrough County Court
13Bristol Law Society 12 Colston Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4ST Monday 19 October 2020 Crown,Civil, CivilTribunal and Tribunalnon-jury Crown work, as a satellite Bristol Crown Court and Bristol Civil and Family Justice Centre and Bristol Crown Court
14Chester Town Hall 33 Northgate Street, Chester CH1 2HQ Monday 19 October 2020 Crown court work as a satellite of Chester Crown Court
15Liverpool, St George’s Hall St George’s Hall, St George’s Place, Liverpool, L1 1JJ Thursday 29 October 2020 Non-custodial magistrates’ work as a satellite of Liverpool Magistrates’ Court
16Winchester, The Guildhall The Guildhall, The Broadway, Winchester SO23 9GH Thursday 29 October 2020 Civil, Family and Tribunal work as a satellite of Winchester Combined Court
17Birmingham Repertory Theatre and LibraryBroad Street, Birmingham B1 2EPMonday 14 December 2020Crime work from Birmingham Crown Court
18Lancaster Town HallDalton Square, Lancaster LA1 1PJFriday 18 December 2020Magistrates’ and Crown Court work as a satellite of Preston Crown & Lancaster Magistrates’ Court
19Hull UniversityKingsley Suite, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull HU6 7RXMonday 11 January 2021Civil and family work from Kingston upon Hull Combined Court
20Former Cirencester Magistrates’ CourtThe Forum, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 2PLMonday 25 January 2021Non-custodial Crown Court work from Gloucester Crown Court

Hertfordshire Development Centre was open between 17-31 August 2020 to hear civil work from Luton County Court and Watford County Court

We have also published guidance if you’ve been asked to attend a hearing in person at a court or tribunal during the coronavirus outbreak.

Published 3 August 2020

Last updated 2925 OctoberJanuary 20202021 + show all updates

  1. Former Cirencester Magistrates' Court added to list of Nightingale courts.

  2. Hull university added as a new Nightingale court venue.

  3. Lancaster Town Hall added to list of courts.

  4. Details for Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Library added.

  5. Additional nightingale courts added - Liverpool and Winchester.

  6. Bristol Law Society and Chester Town Hall added as locations.

  7. New venues added: Salford Lowry Theatre, York Hilton and Middlesbrough Jurys Inn.

  8. Leeds and Peterborough added to list of venues.

  9. List of nightingale courts updated

  10. List of Nightingale Courts updated.

  11. Prospero House contact and venue details added.

  12. First published.

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