Back in 1972, as the vast steel frame of the building took place, a scheme was launched for the people of Bretton to buy a brick at £1 each.

Residents took up this opportunity in droves, and £250,000 of the £3.25 million needed to complete the building was raised from charitable trusts, local people and businesses who all donated to the fund-raising campaign.

Today, the site, which covers four acres, is home to everything from a conference centre, theatre and pub and restaurant to a church, day centre, library and a nursery, as well as the YMCA, which has 82 flats.

It attracts about one million visitors a year through its concerts, weddings, meetings and community events, and has seen some big names from the world of comedy and music appear on its stage.

Putting in appearances over the 30 years have been hypnotist Paul McKenna, comedians Bobby Davro, Cannon and Ball, Phil Cool, Timmy Mallet, Hale and Pace, Max Boyce, Julian Clary, Danny La Rue, Keith Harris and Orville and singers including Bonnie Tyler, Barbara Dickson, David Essex, Daniel O'Donnell, Chas 'n' Dave, Val Doonican and Foster and Allen.

Julian Stanley, the chief executive officer and managing director of Cresset Leisure, said: "We see The Cresset as a community hub, serving both Bretton and greater Peterborough.

"We're a also a leisure destination – a place for music and concerts, drama and dance workshops and community and cultural showcases, meetings, conferences and weddings, where we have recently teamed up with Chef de La Maison who are producing sumptuous food."

As the complex celebrates its milestone anniversary, all eyes are looking to the future, and this is set to be as exciting as the previous three decades.

The next phase of the history of The Cresset begins this week, with the launch of its new band evenings, the C2 sessions.

The possibility of these came about after Bretton Woods School closed. The school had used the hall for its PE lessons and so suddenly The Cresset had a hall that was not being used.

It was redecorated and revamped and will now be used for live music, holding up to 1,200 people.

The organisers hope that this kind of venue will allow The Cresset to cater for both local and emerging bands, and they will be working closely with local and national promoters including John Morgan and The Met Lounge, in the city centre.

The venue will, however, still continue to host sit-down concerts and events aimed at older audiences.

For the first of the C2 sessions, local boys The Brays, who narrowly missed out on getting in the charts with their last single, Sin, will be headlining.

Julian said: "We're building on their local success and we're delighted with that.