Philharmonic Hall awarded £750k for refurbishment

The hall's last major refurbishment came in 2014

Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall has been awarded a £750,000 grant to revamp its stage and choir area.

The hall will be given a share of Arts Council England's £24.2 million capital investment programme for the improvements.

The venue's last major refurbishment came in 2014 and the new work will look to improve conditions for performers.

More than 350,000 people attend the hall's concerts each year and chief executive Michael Eakin said the funding "will make a big difference".

'Optimum conditions'

The money will be used to remodel the orchestral stage risers and choir seating area to enhance acoustics, improve the space for musicians and singers as well as providing access for people with limited mobility.

Mr Eakin told BBC Radio Merseyside the hall wanted to create "optimum conditions" for the artists on stage.

Improved acoustics would also help performers "hear each other better", he said.

Mr Eakin added: "The improvements to the stage will enable us to continue to provide the best quality musical experience for our audiences.”

While the work is being carried out over June and July, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir will play at The Tung Auditorium at the Yoko Ono Lennon Centre on the corner of Grove Street and Oxford Street.

The hall, which opened in 1939, hosts almost 400 concerts and events each year.