First look: 24 photos inside Bristol Beacon as the countdown to opening begins

Bristol Beacon has released final behind-the-scenes images of its historic transformation as it hits one million working hours on the construction.

With just two months to go until Bristol Beacon opens its transformed venue, the project team behind the once-in-a-generation building transformation has taken photos to provide a glimpse of the final stages of the construction programme.

The Willmott Dixon team has also just passed the incredible milestone of one million hours worked on the construction since it began in 2018.

In July alone, over 40,500 hours were worked, with 28 different sub-contracting firms on the site and a total headcount of around 250 people on site every day – supporting a whole range of activities including brickwork, carpentry, electrics, plastering, flooring, acoustics, fire protection, waterproofing, cleaning, organ installation and restaurant fit out.

Key activities on the construction over the summer include:

• Upper and lower balcony seating installed in Beacon Hall (the main auditorium) with fabric designed by artist Rana Begum
• Lantern Hall (the second auditorium) almost complete, with ventilation systems installed, seating in, and decorations finished
• Historic Lantern space (what will be the new bar area and public atrium) has been fitted out with flooring, bar, lighting and specially commissioned tiled artwork by Giles Round
• Restaurant fit out is taking place with catering equipment being installed and resorted chandeliers from the 1951 main auditorium taking pride of place in the new space
• In the cellar spaces, the new green room and dressing rooms are virtually complete, with final decorations being done. The education spaces are finished, awaiting final inspections and the whole area is being painted
• The public art is being installed across the building, with Linda Brothwell’s balustrade going up outside the historic Lantern foyer in the next few weeks

When the concert venue reopens, it is expected to generate at least £13m for the local economy in its first year and support more than 273 FTE jobs. Over the next 20 years, it is estimated to contribute a potential £253.7m GVA to the Bristol economy.

As a world class venue in the heart of the city, Bristol Beacon will deliver around 800 events a year, including 100 performance slots each year dedicated to championing Bristol-based artists.

Seat capacity in the new venue will increase from 2,400 to 2,920, with audience numbers expected to grow from 300,000/year to 500,000.

The transformed venue, designed by architecture practice Levitt Bernstein, will also be home to a brand new music education centre.

The music charity that runs the venue is also in charge of Bristol’s music education hub, delivering its music curriculum to 130 schools in the city and reaching 30,000 young people.

The new, fully accessible, centre will also be able to deliver music education to 1,800 children with special educational needs and disabilities each year, offer a 75% increase in music-making sessions on site, and providing lifelong learning opportunities to a further 5,000 people.

Bristol Beacon chief executive, Louise Mitchell, said: “The transformation of Bristol Beacon has been an epic project that has involved hundreds of highly skilled and talented people and a truly determined team to overcome the many unforeseen challenges this complex, historic building has thrown up over the last five years.

“With just 65 days to go until it reopens, the construction team are making every effort to complete the last few tasks and the Bristol Beacon team is busy finalising the details for the reopening events and house-warming party.

“We can’t wait for November 30 to open our doors and welcome back audiences, partners and friends for the start of this next chapter in the illustrious 155-year history. The Beacon will be one of the best concert facilities in Europe, with extraordinary new performance spaces to present every kind of music and a dynamic education centre for young musicians to develop and grow.”

Bristol Beacon’s opening night takes place on November 30, with a ground-breaking new commission from the pioneering Bristol based Paraorchestra, who are working with celebrated electronic composer Surgeons Girl and AV experts Limbic Cinema to create a dynamic audio visual collision of sound and light heralding the rebirth of Beacon Hall.

And The Housewarming invites everyone to celebrate the revitalised venue on December 3 with a free entry, day-to-night festival bursting with a colourful spectrum of Bristol creativity.Tickets and more information from https://bristolbeacon.org/

Here are 24 photos inside Bristol Beacon as the countdown to opening begins.