Bristol Beacon - entrance foyer

The re-development of the Bristol Beacon concert venue has made it one of the most eyes catching buildings in the south west. The £20 million project for Bristol City Council and the Arts Council features a striking gold copper-clad facade with large glass atrium that is five storeys high. The foyer has been fitted out with two new bars, a new ticket office, cafe, bistro, education space, rehearsal rooms and performance space.

Willmott Dixon worked closely with Bristol City Council to ensure the building would meet and exceed the needs and requirements of visitors and performers a creative hub for Bristol and the South West, making music and performance accessible to all, providing opportunities and inspiration for young emerging musicians and established artists, and being the regional focal point for the music industry.

It’s an exciting new era for Bristol Beacon, which has played host to some of the greatest acts in music history, Including the Beatles and stars from Motown, and was the venue where Mick Jagger first met Marianne Faithful.

As well as new walkways through to the 2,000 seat main auditorium, the foyer gives the venue a 21st century look and feel that has already made it a landmark building for the centre of Bristol.

Since it re-opened, Bristol Beacon visitor number have been much higher than expected, and the venue has continued in its long tradition of attracting world famous acts who are playing to sell out audiences, from top class comedy to rock, contemporary and classical music.

The buildings striking gold facade is made of 100% recycled copper materials.

"The Bristol Beacon project was a real challenge, not only to deliver a complex building on time and on budget, but to enable me to keep running the venue next door throughout the construction process. This required a fantastic approach to partnering and understanding our needs which Willmott Dixon excelled at."

Graeme Howell, Director of Bristol Beacon