A £600,000 investment in the finest auditorium in the South is now complete, delivering a first-class concert experience!
Throughout the summer, all of Portsmouth Guildhall’s 2,000 seats have been replaced with brand new seats that are designed for comfort with a contoured seat and backrest to provide a “lux” seating experience.
A number of Premium Seats have also been introduced as the ‘best seats in the house’ which offer even greater comfort and increased space, with a package of extras to complete the VIP experience including priority queue entry and access to the exclusive Aura Lounge and Bar.
The new seating system provided by Hussey Seatway, retains the venue’s flexible format with removable seating in the stalls area to accommodate standing concerts, exhibitions and dinners.
The full refurbishment works which have given the Guildhall’s main auditorium a completely new look include painting and decoration, new stage tabs and new carpet for the upper stalls and circle areas. The classic and timeless look was designed by Tilly Hemingway for Hemingway Design, a multi-disciplinary design studio with a legacy and portfolio spanning four decades founded by Wayne Hemingway MBE.
A brand new Sound Desk has also been installed to further enhance the venue’s technical capability and sound experience for customers.
The refurbishment has been funded by Portsmouth City Council and The Guildhall Trust to significantly improve the city’s cultural asset as part of a programme of Renaissance of the Guildhall to develop a fully self-sustainable financial model and ensure that the iconic venue continues to thrive for future generations.
Chief Executive Officer of The Guildhall Trust, Andy Grays said “We are absolutely delighted with the new look auditorium! We strive to give people attending events with us the best possible experience and increasing the comfort levels has been a priority. The improvement works are critical to the long-term success of Portsmouth Guildhall, helping us to remain competitive in all aspects and as we continue to attract some of the best acts around to the city!”
The latest investment completes the full auditorium upgrade following earlier improvements which included new carpet, sound and light systems. Other projects that are part of the Renaissance of Portsmouth Guildhall have seen the venue’s toilet facilities upgraded, a secondary performance space called The Lens Studio created and the basement transformed into a creative space for young people called The BASE, delivering the Trust’s charitable objectives to inspire, entertain and transform lives.
Exciting new works to transform the Guildhall’s bar areas are set to follow, starting in Autumn 2026, with full plans to be announced soon!
