Bristol Beacon £130m revamp 'almost at finish line'

The project has taken five years to complete

After five years of major restorations and more than £130m, a music venue revamp is almost at "the finishing line".

The Bristol Beacon, previously known as Colston Hall, closed in 2018 and will reopen on 30 November.

The new improved venue will include a new Beacon Hall, cellar bar, restaurant, mezzanine and uncovered original features.

Heritage programme creative director Cathy Mager said its "incredible 156-year history" will also be included in a large artwork piece.

More than a million work hours went into the building work

The revamp of the historic building, which will be under a 30 year lease, has run over budget with the original estimate standing at £48m.

The final cost is expected to be more than £130m.

The revamp has cost more than £130m

"What weve been doing is trying to bring the stories of the past, the musicians, the protests the different things that have taken place there," Ms Mager said.

"We tried to bring them to the fore through incredible exhibitions and artworks across the building."

The building will include new bars, a mezzanine and foyer

Bristol Beacon chief executive Louise Mitchell said to see the end of the project so close fills her heart.

"I'm really proud and grateful for all the people that made this happen," she said.

Ms Mitchell said it is "amazing" to see it coming to life

"We've lived with it for a very long time, but things that we've planned five years ago are suddenly coming to life.

"It's amazing."

It has also been through a much-publicised renaming in the time it has been closed, originally being called The Colston Hall, after Edward Colston, who was a 17th Century slave trader.

The venue will be run by Bristol Music Trust

Bristol Beacon artistic director Todd Wills said the new venue "is hugely flexible in what it can do".

"Comfort is going to be that much greater here," he said.

"The sound is going to be incredible - even better than it was before."

Mr David said more than 100 workers are adding finishing touches in time for the opening

Mr Wills said comfort in the venue will be "much greater"

Its smaller stage The Lantern, has been changed and includes a hydraulic stage.

Below ground the cellars that used to store wine have also been transformed into a brand new venue

The new underground cellar venue used to store wine

Wilmott Dixons operations director Richard David there were around 100 people on the site "doing the finishing touches".

"They're making sure it's all perfect for next week," he said.

Ms Mager said the Bristol Beacon's "incredible 156-year history" has been included in a large artwork piece

"It's been a challenging project.

"We've worked over a million man hours to get to this point and were all incredibly proud that we're here now, right at the finishing line."

The reopening is on 30 November

An all-day free party has been planned to go ahead this Saturday to celebrate.

Bristol's Paraorchestra will be the first artists to perform on the Beacon Hall stage during an opening event.

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