57-693: YTL Arena Bristol is a proposed 19,000-capacity indoor arena , to be located at the former Filton Airfield 's Brabazon hangar. Original plans were for the arena to be built next to Bristol Temple Meads railway station in Bristol , England, and was expected to be completed in 2020. The site, which has become known as 'Arena Island', is to the south and across the River Avon from the station, and lies within Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone . The funding package for
114-529: A wind turbine . With the provision of several new bars in the new foyer building, the old bar area (formerly the Lesser Colston Hall and Little Theatre) was returned to performance use as The Lantern, accommodating a standing audience of 350. The redeveloped complex also provided additional performance spaces, meeting rooms, and restaurants. In 2011, management of Colston Hall transferred from Bristol City Council to Bristol Music Trust. In 2014,
171-522: A 75m bridge over the Henbury Loop railway line . The new entrance for the arena in the central hangar will be raised above the existing floor, looking out over the runway. The east and west hangars will be transformed into a Festival Hall and 'The Hub'. Festival Hall will host exhibitions and conventions as well as large scale events. The Hub will consist of small or start-up businesses, food and drink outlets, and leisure facilities. Planning permission
228-631: A concert venue in 1867, and became a popular place for classical music and theatre. In the mid-20th century, wrestling matches were in strong demand, while in the late 1960s it developed into one of the most important rock music venues in Britain. The hall has been redeveloped several times, and was gutted by fires in 1898 and 1945, though the original Bristol Byzantine foyer has survived. A major refurbishment, adding an extra wing, opened in 2009. The hall closed in 2018 for repair and refurbishment work, and reopened on 30 November 2023. Formerly named after
285-463: A cost of £48 million. Because of significant unforeseen structural and heritage issues the works were extended. By 2022, costs had more than doubled to £107 million, making it a major area of investment, second only to the council's housing stock. The council's auditors criticised it for the overrun, saying the council had underestimated the complexity and difficulty of the work and failed to have effective management arrangements. In July 2022,
342-665: A hall near St. James' Priory and was supported by wealthy Liberals , who saw the Victoria Rooms in Clifton as too closely tied to the Tory interest. They demolished the old school building in order to build a concert hall, which opened on 20 September 1867. The architects were local firm Foster & Wood, working in the Bristol Byzantine style. The basement was used as a bonded warehouse handling cargoes from
399-605: A large arena-style venue. As of late 2013, Bristol's two largest music venues are the Colston Hall and the O 2 Academy , which both hold around 2,000 people each. The site, which used to be the location of the Bristol Bath Road depot , was owned by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). It is the biggest undeveloped site in Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone , an enterprise zone launched in 2012. In 2013
456-495: A local builder and entrepreneur. Once elected mayor, Ferguson launched a competition to find the best design for a 12,000-seat arena that would be "the most environmentally-friendly venue of its kind" and pledged that the project would be up and running within four years. This was followed by a bid to win £80 million from the government's Regional Growth Fund to partially fund the project and pay for renovations at Colston Hall , which ultimately proved unsuccessful. In February 2014,
513-471: A location, often with the specific intent of comparing an idea to a sporting event. Such examples of these would be terms such as "the arena of war", "the arena of love" or "the political arena". Colston Hall Bristol Beacon , previously Colston Hall , is a concert hall and Grade II listed building on Colston Street, Bristol , England. It is owned by Bristol City Council . Since 2011, it has been managed by Bristol Music Trust. The hall opened as
570-567: A meeting in the hall to discuss the production of munitions, while in 1919 a Roll of Honour ceremony took place there for soldiers who had been decorated for their service during the war. The Bristol Corporation, which later became Bristol City Council , bought the building for £65,000 in 1919. The Lesser Colston Hall became the Little Theatre in 1923, initially under the control of the Rotary Club , then Little Theatre Ltd in 1929 and
627-478: A popular venue for many rock and pop music acts since the 1960s. The Beatles first performed at Colston Hall on 15 March 1963 as part of a package tour with Chris Montez and Tommy Roe . The group returned there to play the last gig of a British tour on 10 November 1964, where four fans managed to sneak backstage and tip flour over their heads. The Rolling Stones performed at Colston Hall with Ike & Tina Turner and The Yardbirds on 7 October 1966. From
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#1732790940265684-505: A roof. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the lowest point, allowing maximum visibility. Arenas are usually designed to accommodate a multitude of spectators. The word derives from Latin harena , a particularly fine-grained sand that covered the floor of ancient arenas such as the Colosseum in Rome , Italy, to absorb blood. The term arena is sometimes used as
741-584: A sugar house was established here by the merchant venturer Edward Colston to refine sugar that was brought in from the Caribbean to Bristol Harbour. The sugar refinery included thirteen cottages for workers in its grounds which extended towards the current site of the Red Lodge Museum . In 1708, Colston established the Colston Boys' School in this building in order to educate the poor. It
798-430: A synonym for a very large venue such as Pasadena's Rose Bowl , but such a facility is typically called a stadium . The use of one term over the other has mostly to do with the type of event. Football (be it association , rugby , gridiron , Australian rules , or Gaelic ) is typically played in a stadium, while basketball , volleyball , handball , and ice hockey are typically played in an arena, although many of
855-403: A temporary facility which would eventually be developed into offices, apartments and retail space. George Ferguson defended the plans, saying "it would be completely mad, completely mad, to put a mass of parking on the site." In February 2016, Bristol City Council denied it had performed a u-turn after it emerged an eight-storey, 480 space car park was to be considered for the site. The owner of
912-476: Is also the sport of indoor American football (one variant of which is explicitly known as arena football), a variant of the outdoor game that is designed for the usual smaller playing surface of most arenas; variants of other traditionally outdoor sports, including box lacrosse as well as futsal and indoor soccer , also exist. The term "arena" is also used loosely to refer to any event or type of event which either literally or metaphorically takes place in such
969-730: The London Symphony Orchestra , Philharmonia Orchestra , the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra , Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra and Berliner Symphoniker in the 2011–12 season, as well as solo artists such as Murray Perahia . The hall can stage theatrical productions. From 22–30 December 2011 it hosted 15 performances of the Bristol Old Vic production of Coram Boy while the Old Vic was closed for refurbishment. The hall has been
1026-564: The Middle Ages . During the 13th century, a Carmelite friary called Whitefriars stood on the site. In the Tudor period , it was replaced by a mansion called The Great House , built in 1568 by Sir John Young , a member of a merchant family and courtier to Henry VIII . Queen Elizabeth I stayed there as a guest of the Youngs when visiting Bristol in 1574. In the late 17th century,
1083-420: The (long defunct) Bristol Symphony Orchestra. The British Library holds details of the 1912 festival at the hall which, among other concerts, included a performance of Wagner's Ring Cycle over four days. Sergei Rachmaninoff performed at the hall in the 1920s, and a concert programme from 1969 lists forthcoming weekly classical concerts with soloists such as Arthur Rubinstein and Igor Oistrakh as well as
1140-587: The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, the (now defunct) Bristol Sinfonia, conducted by Sidney Sager and concerts by Bristol Choral Society , which has staged at least three concerts annually at the hall since its formation in 1889. There is an annual International Classical Concert Season featuring regular appearances by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and visiting UK and international orchestras such as
1197-599: The HCA agreed to fund an £11 million road bridge over the River Avon , to link the site to Cattle Market Road and the railway station. The HCA transferred ownership of the arena site to Bristol City Council in March 2015. Construction of the 63-metre (207 ft) bridge took place from March to September 2015. It has lanes for cars, bicycles and pedestrians. In March 2016, it was named Brock's Bridge, after William Brock (1830–1907),
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#17327909402651254-496: The Little Theatre in 1961, and Bristol Old Vic took it over from 1963 until 1980. Thereafter, the Little Theatre was turned into a bar, which the hall, due to its temperance origins, had always lacked. The first computerised booking system was installed in February 1983. In 1990, the hall briefly closed as part of a £500,000 modernisation programme to rewire the building and improve the technical facilities, as well as redecorate
1311-648: The Rapier Players from 1935. The second hall was closed for remodelling in 1935, as it was difficult for all of the audience to see the orchestra performing. It re-opened the following December. Though much of Bristol was bombed during the Battle of Britain , the Colston Hall survived most of the Second World War. On 5 February 1945, a discarded cigarette started a large fire that burned down
1368-489: The arena at the former Filton Airfield site. Planning permission was given in 2020, and construction was planned to start in 2022 with completion by early 2026. As of 2023, construction work still has yet to commence. In December 2023 the completion date was stated to be late 2025 or early 2026, but was pushed backed to 2027 at the earliest. Initial plans for Bristol Arena were announced in March 2003. The arena, to be built next to Bristol's largest railway station Temple Meads ,
1425-480: The arena in addition to the £46m that had already been committed by Bristol City Council and the South West of England Regional Development Agency . By 2009, plans for Bristol Arena were back on the agenda with two plans put forward. One plan, similar to plans for the site next to Temple Meads, was supported by the architect and future mayor , George Ferguson . The other plan, supported by Bristol City Council,
1482-487: The arena not be successful would be to the council, and expert advice was that the venue size was too small for major events. Rees also argued a mixed use development would create more and better paid jobs. Criticism of the Temple Quarter arena plans had often been aimed at the low number of dedicated car parking spaces on site. Initial plans revealed there would be just 245 spaces on site, 200 of which would be in
1539-425: The arena scheme was approved by Bristol City Council in February 2014. The winning design, by Populous , was revealed in March 2015. In January 2017 a new contractor had to be sought following a failure to agree build costs. In September 2018 the plans to build the arena near Temple Meads were abandoned, primarily on cost and risk grounds. In 2019, YTL Corporation released details regarding their proposal to build
1596-423: The backstage area. In 1999, removable seats were installed in the front of the stalls, to cater for rock concerts where fans at the front wanted to move around freely, as well as increasing capacity. The official capacity of the hall was then 2,075. From 2007 to 2009, the Colston Hall underwent extensive refurbishment with the construction of a new foyer alongside the present building by Willmott Dixon , topped by
1653-481: The developers confirmed they had yet to start construction work and were still in the 'enabling works' phase which included decontamination and demolition of non-essential structures. Arena An arena is a large enclosed platform, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre , musical performances , and/or sporting events . It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators, and may be covered by
1710-566: The docks. The original hall included a coffered barrel-vaulted ceiling, and was modelled after St George's Hall, Liverpool . The foyer building with the grand staircase and the smaller hall (the Lesser Colston Hall, now the Lantern) were opened in 1873. A meeting calling for women's suffrage was held at the hall in November 1880. On 1 September 1898, a fire broke out in the neighbouring Clark's clothing factory, which quickly spread to
1767-593: The edge of the city's boundary, in Southmead ward. In September 2018, Mayor Marvin Rees scrapped the arena plans in favour of a mixed use development, leaving the Brabazon Hangar as the only option. The primary reasons given for the decision were build cost, future financial risk and job creation. The build cost for the council had increased to £150 million plus half of any cost overruns. Costs arising should
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1824-548: The first net zero concert hall in the UK by 2030, and the refurbishment includes 348 solar panels providing 12% of the venue's electricity. In 2014, campaigners called for the hall's name to be changed because of Edward Colston’s involvement in the slave trade, much of his wealth having come from that trade, and his investments in the Royal African Company . The Bristol group Massive Attack vowed not to play at
1881-642: The first live performances of The Dark Side of the Moon at Colston Hall on 5 February 1972, over a year before the album was released. Queen headlined Colston Hall three times, firstly on Tuesday 12 November 1974 as part of the Sheer Heart Attack Tour , returning on 17 and 18 November 1975 as part of the A Night At The Opera Tour . Subsequent tours would see them play at the Bristol Hippodrome . In addition to rock and pop artists,
1938-411: The former Bristol Filton Airport , YTL Corporation , announced plans in early 2019 for a 17,000 seat indoor arena in the former Brabazon hangar , in partnership with Avison Young, Grimshaw and MANICA Architecture . The "unique seating bowl" design of the arena would allow for flexible capacity ranging from 4,000 to 17,000. Plans include a walkway modelled after Wembley Way , 36 'Brabazon Steps' and
1995-605: The funding package for the arena scheme was approved as part of Bristol City Council's budget. The total cost of the arena, £91 million, would be funded by the council which would have provided £38 million with the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership funding the remaining £53 million. In November 2014, the five shortlisted architects for the contract to design the arena were announced. The winning design by Populous , beating designs by Grimshaw Architects LLP , Idom Ingeniería y Consultoría , White Arkitekter and Wilkinson Eyre ,
2052-464: The hall for a second time. The organ was destroyed, and the main auditorium was reduced to pieces of charred wood and hot metal. The hall was refurbished and initially used in 1951 to commemorate the Festival of Britain . It was designed by J Nelson Meredith and constructed by William Cowlin. It included improvements in the building's acoustics and a modern heating and ventilation system. The organ
2109-452: The hall regularly hosts comedians (including multiple-date sell-out runs by Billy Connolly and Bristol-born Stephen Merchant ). An annual silent comedy festival takes place there. Colston Hall was popular for wrestling matches from 1951. By the end of the decade, demand for matches was so strong that seats were block booked from one day to the next. Harold Sakata made several wrestling appearances there before moving into acting in
2166-496: The hall was expected to reopen in late 2023. In January 2023, costs again increased by £25 million, bringing the total to £132 million, of which Bristol Council is responsible for £84 million. Renamed to the Bristol Beacon, it reopened on 30 November 2023, with a capacity of 1,800 (2,100 standing) in the main hall and two additional auditoria in the cellars and a former recital room. The venue plans to become
2223-537: The hall while it was in use for the Trades Union Congress . The auditorium suffered extensive damage, with only the walls remaining, and the pipe organ was completely destroyed. The foyer was the only part of the building to survive in its original condition. The hall was rebuilt, and re-opened in 1901. It was in use throughout the First World War; in 1915, David Lloyd George addressed
2280-588: The larger arenas hold more spectators than do the stadiums of smaller colleges or high schools. There are exceptions. The home of the Duke University men's and women's basketball teams would qualify as an arena, but the facility is called Cameron Indoor Stadium . Domed stadiums, which, like arenas, are enclosed but have the larger playing surfaces and seating capacities found in stadiums, are generally not referred to as arenas in North America. There
2337-796: The late 1960s onwards, Colston Hall became one of the major rock music venues in the country. Jimi Hendrix played twice at the hall in 1967. David Bowie , Elton John , Queen , Thin Lizzy , Roxy Music , Iron Maiden , Bob Marley and Lou Reed all performed there. Bob Dylan performed there on 10 May 1966, the last month of his controversial world tour. The Who first played Colston Hall on 10 November 1968, part-way through recording Tommy , with support from Free , and returned on 7 March 1970. Led Zeppelin played at Colston Hall in June 1969, part-way through recording Led Zeppelin II . Pink Floyd gave one of
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2394-540: The opening of the Arena would be delayed until late 2025 or early 2026, however the capacity of the arena would be increased to 19,000 due to design improvements. On 1 February 2023, the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) announced that the planned rail package was under review due to soaring costs; it was announced that costs had risen to more than £10 million from the £6.6 million already approved. This follows delays to
2451-473: The planned Arena and public transport links. In May 2024, plans were submitted to Bristol City Council for an outdoor cinema, which would be replaced in the winter by an ice rink, in addition to courts, for badminton and tennis, a multi-use games area for sports such as basketball and five-a-side football, and a pump track for cycling. In an update regarding the progress of the arena project in September 2024,
2508-441: The planned rail package due to design changes which was being led by WECA. Despite this Labour Metro Mayor Dan Norris appeared to accuse Conservative led South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) for making mistakes with the figures, which SGC disputed claiming high inflation and utilities prices were to blame for increasing costs. In January 2024, YTL obtained planning permission to build 1,500 student flats and 400 private homes near to
2565-408: The proposals as "defective" and deferred making a decision on them until an appropriate level of supporting information could be provided. Public concern over parking and transport around the proposals had not been properly addressed and the committee were not confident in the detail submitted for approval. George Ferguson claimed the planning committee had put the entire project at risk and the decision
2622-516: The slave trader, merchant and philanthropist Edward Colston , who founded Colston's School on the site in the early 18th century, it was renamed after a number of years of campaigning because of Colston's ties to the Atlantic slave trade . The renaming was brought forward in September 2020 following anti-racism protests in Bristol that summer. There has been a building on the site of the hall since
2679-505: The trust announced a fundraising campaign to raise £45 million to refurbish and modernise the main hall. Proposed works included converting the cellars into studios, and other internal modernisations. By 2016, £25 million had been raised by Bristol City Council, the national government, and Arts Council England . Work began in 2019, carried out by Willmott Dixon, with completion set for 2023. The hall closed in 2018 for safety and refurbishment work, due to be completed in 2020 at
2736-437: The venue while it retained its name. The proposal led to a debate in the pages of the local press. In April 2017, the charity that runs the hall stated that it was going to change the name of the venue after completion of refurbishment works. On 15 June 2020 the lettering "Colston Hall" was removed from the exterior, and the charity announced that a new name would be disclosed later in that year. The new name "Bristol Beacon"
2793-491: Was "not about planning, it was about politics." Following multiple updates to the transport plan, the arena was granted planning permission in April 2016 with the planning committee unanimously in favour of the updated plans. In January 2017, the projected opening of the arena was delayed to 2020 after Bristol City Council and preferred construction firm Bouygues UK failed to agree on construction costs. Three months later, it
2850-562: Was announced on 23 September 2020; Louise Mitchell, chief executive of the Bristol Music Trust, said that the renaming would be "a symbol of hope and community". Details of early performances at the hall are limited due to the subsequent fires, but the archive of the Royal College of Music holds programmes from 1896 onwards which reference a triennial musical festival that was founded in 1873, as well as performances by
2907-535: Was announced that Buckingham Group , who had initially been the second preferred bidder, would carry out preliminary work on the site while negotiating a final price. Bristol City Council have also commissioned an independent review into the project's value for money. In November 2017, the Bristol Post revealed plans to construct the arena within the Brabazon Hangar at the former Filton Airfield on
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#17327909402652964-417: Was given in 2020, and construction was planned to start in 2022 with completion by 2024. The former airfield site has been earmarked by South Gloucestershire Council for 2,675 new homes, however the Brabazon Hangar is just to the south of the airfield in Bristol. This new suburb, to be called Brabazon , began construction in 2020 with first residents arriving in 2021. In January 2023, it was announced that
3021-726: Was managed by the Society of Merchant Venturers . Colston adhered to a strict moral and religious code which was enforced in the school. After his death in 1721, the school continued at the Great Hall until 1857, when it moved to Stapleton . The site was acquired by the Colston Hall Company in 1861, who raised £12,000 in £10 shares. The company had grown out of an effort by the Bristol Temperance Progressionist Society to build
3078-511: Was planned to have 10,000 seats and host music concerts as well as sports and conferences, and was intended to open by 2008 to coincide with the city's bid to be the European Capital of Culture . In June 2007, work had yet to begin on the arena despite around £13 million spent to purchase and clear the site. In late 2007, the plans were abandoned after developers announced that £40 million of public sector money would be required to fund
3135-577: Was rebuilt by Harrison & Harrison and housed in a grille behind the stage, out of view of most of the audience. It has 5,372 pipes, ranging from 1 inch (whistle) to 32 feet (sub-bass). Acts from the United States began to appear at the hall, having been restricted by the Musicians' Union for the previous 20 years. In 1966, the building was Grade II listed by English Heritage . The Rapier Players had given notice to terminate their lease of
3192-473: Was revealed in March 2015. The arena had been designed to achieve a BREEAM 'Excellent' rating and would've been able to quickly convert from a number of different layouts, with capacities ranging from 4,000 to 12,000. The preferred operators, SMG Europe and Live Nation , were announced in December 2014. In March 2016, the arena plans suffered a further setback when the city's planning committee described
3249-586: Was to build an arena next to Bristol City's proposed stadium at Ashton Vale . A number of legal challenges to Bristol City's proposed stadium caused the council to reconsider plans for an arena on the originally preferred site next to Temple Meads in 2012. With the opening of the First Direct Arena in Leeds in the summer of 2013, Bristol became the largest city in the United Kingdom without
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