For years, the traditional town hall was the backbone of community engagement. Held in local halls and community centres, these meetings were a chance for project teams to present, take questions, and – sometimes – weather heated feedback from the floor. 

But as engagement approaches evolved, many moved away from town halls toward more informal, inclusive formats like drop-in sessions, small group workshops, and one-on-one conversations. At Spectrum Comms, this shift was driven by a genuine desire to ensure quieter voices weren’t drowned out, and to make space for more thoughtful, respectful dialogue. 

Yet recently, we’ve seen something interesting. Communities are asking for town halls to return. And they’re not just asking, they’re expecting them. 

So, is there still a place for the traditional town hall in modern engagement? 

The pros  

Town halls offer something powerful: visibility. For many people, seeing decision-makers stand up and answer tough questions in a public setting is a vital part of trust building. It’s where accountability is demonstrated, not just described. 

There’s also a sense of community that comes with being in a room together -neighbours hearing each other’s concerns, finding common ground or respectful disagreement, and feeling part of a collective voice. 

When done well, town halls can send a strong message – we’re listening, and we’re not afraid to have the conversation in the open. 

The cons 

Of course, there’s a reason the traditional town hall fell out of favour. 

They can be dominated by the loudest voices. They can escalate quickly, and they often leave less-confident participants feeling unheard, or worse, intimidated. 

They’re also less flexible. Unlike a drop-in session, where people can pop in at a time that suits them, town halls demand availability at a fixed time and place. That can make it difficult for shift workers, young parents, or others with accessibility constraints, to take part. 

So… what’s the answer? 

At Spectrum Comms, we don’t believe it’s one or the other. 

We believe in layered engagement – meeting people where they’re at, in the way that works best for them. That might mean holding a town hall for those who want their say in a public forum. But it also means offering drop-in sessions, surveys, kitchen table conversations, and phone calls for those who don’t. 

If the community is asking for town halls, we shouldn’t dismiss that. But we do need to plan them well, with strong facilitation, clear ground rules, and follow-up opportunities for deeper dialogue. We also need to be upfront about their purpose. Are we here to inform, to listen, or to co-design? 

The goal isn’t to go back in time. It’s to build trust, create space, and engage with respect. 

Town halls may not be perfect, but in the right context and alongside other tools they can still be powerful. 

At a time when communities are seeking transparency, connection and genuine conversation, perhaps there’s more value than ever in showing up, standing up, and listening in the room.