Watch: Bristol Beacon to host ‘triumphant’ reopening after £132m refurbishment

The doors to Bristol Beacon’s new auditorium were opened for the first time this morning (Thursday, November 30) to mark the concert hall’s official reopening.       

Following a £132m refurbishment, the concert venue will host its opening night performance, ‘Trip the Light Fantastic’ by Bristol-based Paraorchestra, tonight.  

The building, formerly known as Colston Hall, has been closed since 2018 and has undergone a huge transformation in that time as well as a name change.    

It now has four performance spaces, allowing it to deliver more than 800 events a year and generate an estimated £13m annually to the economy.   

The new spaces include a ‘wonderfully restored’ concert hall (Beacon Hall) and Victorian second hall (Lantern Hall) as well as a new restaurant called Colonnade.

The cellars have also been opened for the first time in 100 years to create an education centre and a new performance space.

Following the reopening concert, The Housewarming, a day-to-night festival on Saturday, December 2, will see more than 60 acts perform. 

The Beacon’s music programme will then launch, with performances including Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra and Penguin Café.  

The Beacon team admit the transformation of the 156-year-old iconic building has thrown up ‘a myriad of challenges’.  

During renovation work, there were unexpected discoveries such as Elizabethan wells, a Victorian heating system and hollow pillars - which saw costs more than triple.   

On the reopening, Louise Mitchell, chief executive of Bristol Beacon, said: “The skill, hard work and love poured into this huge refurbishment has resulted in one of the best and most accessible performance and music education spaces in Europe. 

“What excites all of us here is the potential of the new Bristol Beacon, which will allow us to continue delivering transformative musical moments to all Bristolians.”

Marvin Rees, mayor of Bristol, added: “Delivering a world class music and arts venue for Bristol signifies a major investment in our city's artistic reputation and its cultural roots. 

“The generosity of funders and donors, alongside our city's major investment, has brought to life one of the finest music venues in Europe and an inclusive centre for community learning and education. 

“Bristol Beacon is not a two, three, or even five-year project. It is a 100-year legacy for Bristol; from the main stage to the cellars’ recording studio, it is a venue designed by the people of Bristol, for the future of Bristol.”