Leaky roof reported at £132m revamped city venue

A "minor leak" was reported at Bristol Beacon on Friday night

Repairs are under way at a concert hall, just eight months after it opened.

Audience members reported a leak at Bristol Beacon, during the interval of a comedy show on Friday night, when it was raining heavily in the city.

The venue, which was formerly known as Colston Hall, underwent a £132m revamp in June 2018. It was completed in November 2023.

A spokesperson from the venue said: "We are dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of safety and comfort for everyone who visits the Beacon.”

They confirmed that the "minor leak" occurred in the flat roof above the Lantern foyer, after a period of heavy rain that evening.

Jen Smith, who was attending a comedy gig at the venue when the leak began, said: "It was surprising to see a constant dripping of water coming from the roof in a building that has so recently been restored, over such a long period of time and at a cost of £132m.

"It's something you might expect from much older heritage buildings such as West End theatres.

"To see water coming in the Bristol Beacon at this early point in its new journey isn't great," she added.

Bristol Beacon closed for five years to undergo a £132m revamp

The refurbishment was Bristol City Council's third-largest expenditure in 2023, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The final cost of the venue ended up nearing triple its original estimate of £48m.

Opposition councillors said the money spent exceeded what it is worth, but the local authority said the boost to the city's economy would "ultimately dwarf" the cost of the work.

Bristol Beacon responded "promptly" to the issue, and work to rectify the problem was being carried out,