The opening of the Beacon in 10 pictures
Posted on: 04 Dec 2023After five years and £132m pounds of funding (the second-largest investment in England by the Arts Council this century), the Bristol Beacon is finally ready - opening properly for the first time last Thursday, November 30th.
We headed down to take a look ahead of their weekend housewarming event - and captured in ten snapshots.
Pillar of the Community
The restored olonade is an imposing sight along Pipe St, these smooth columns with a Corinthian-style head look straight out of an ancient Greek archaelogical dig, lending a historic, statesmanlike air to the Beacon, and neatly contrasting the clean, modern interior of the Colonade.
Finishing Touches
With a project as big as the renovation of the Beacon, there are a million things to do, and in many ways the work will never quite be done. With that in mind, it's good to see the small details aren't being left behind - down to the very bottom of a single planter!
The Beacon Is Lit
Whilst the lobby of the Beacon has been accessible on and off for some time, it's a wholly different experience to see it occupied by light, warmth, and people for the first time in earnest. These are just a fraction of the crowds that were in the lobby for last weekend's celebratory Housewarming event - so look forward to a busy Beacon for years to come.
Big Names
The attraction of the Beacon's opening event is no doubt at least partially due to a well-earned exhibition of works by Bristol's Princeps, Jeff Johns (a.k.a Big Jeff). STARE is an exhibition tackling Big Jeff's journey through lockdown, to the house fire he was caught in during 2022, and his journey to recovery afterwards - featuring a mixture of self-portraits, and paintings in response by the students of Claremont School in Henleaze.
As Within, So Without
The Lantern was looking bright and ready for the weekend's festivities as we took our tour - a fine juxtaposition between grandeur and intimacy that sums up the aesthetic of the rennovation as hall.
Bright Lights, Old Stones
In another appropriate microcosm of the Beacon as a whole, this interstatial hall between the various venues of the Beacon is not left behind in the refurbishment - merging the classical architecture and bright LED halos in a suprisingly coherent synthesis.
A View to Dine For
The Colonade is also the home to the Beacon's new restaurant - a place where meals reflecting the Beacon's ethos will be prepared and served - much to the public's delight, no doubt.
Temporary Tables, Permanent Atmosphere
The renovation of the cellars into the new Weston Stage is one of the most dramatic changes to the building. The new, jazzy underground stage is perfect for the more intimate concerts at the Beacon - and is also shoulder-to-shoulder with the new Bristol Water Sound Studios, a new education-focused recording studio and facility.
Lights, Camera, Music!
During our tour of the building, we were given a sneak peek at the rehearsals of Paraorchestra's Trip the Light Fantastic - a great illustration of the showstopping scale of productions that will be housed in the Beacon Hall.
Open to the Public
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With the Beacon finally open to the public, the comfortable, colourful spaces that fill its interior lobby were already welcomed by the people inside - making themselves at home quickly.
So that's our picture tour of the new Beacon - keep an eye on 365 for coverage of all of the best events to feature at the four stages at the new Beacon, or check out the Beacon's website for more.
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Patrick is a filmmaker with so much Bristol in his blood the white blood cells are graffiti'd. Educated at the Northern Film School in Leeds, he’s returned home to be a Videographer and Reviewer for 365Bristol and BARBI. When he’s not messing about with cameras, he enjoys playing guitar, spending far too much time on tabletop RPGs, and being an awful snob about cider. Have a look at his work here, or get in touch at patrickb@365bristol.com.
