Southampton Guildhall is the South's largest multipurpose entertainment venue. Hosting some of the biggest names in music from Pink Floyd & David Bowie in the 70's to present day bands such as Hard Fi, Manic Street Preachers, The Killers, The Kaiser Chiefs & Amy Winehouse. With a capacity of 1,749 and in the heart of the city centre, 10 minutes from the railway station, amidst cafes, restaurants and shops it's the place to be!

Whether you are organizing a major exhibition, conference, banquet, dinner dance, concert or wedding reception the Guildhall through its experience and expertise can effectively host your event.

For bookings contact the Box Office: 02380 632601.

Southampton Guildhall is centrally located, close to all transport links, main businesses, quality hotels, shopping and leisure facilities. Visit southampton.romanse.org.uk to find out about traffic information.

By Road

M3 from London and Basingstoke - M27 - Junction 14 on to A33 for Southampton following the signs for City Centre, at Charlotte Place Roundabout take the A3034 (Brunswick Pl) follow the road round, to your left there is the large Civic Building, the Southampton Guildhall is located within this civic complex. Entrance to the Guildhall is in West Marlands Road. M27 link from the East. Junction 5 (signed Eastleigh Airport) - A335 to Southampton. Follow the signs for City Centre. Do not follow signs for Docks. At the Charlotte Place Roundabout take the A3034 (Brunswick Pl) follow the road round, to your left there is the large Civic Building, the Southampton Guildhall is located within this civic complex. Entrance to the Guildhall is in West Marlands Road. M27 link from the West. Junction 3 M27. A3024 follow the signs for City Centre. Western Esplanade, railway station on left, large Civic Building at the top of the hill, the Southampton Guildhall is located within this civic complex. Entrance to the Guildhall is in West Marlands Road.

Parking is located within walking distance. Grosvenor Square Car Park in Grosvenor Sq off Cumberland Road. West Park Car Park in West Park Rd off Havelock Road. Civic centre Car Park on Civic Centre Road.

By Rail

Southampton Central Railway station is within 10 minutes walk, with regular and frequent services from London and other major city links.

By Air

Southampton International Airport is 6 miles away from the city centre. With main railway line to Southampton Central from Southampton Parkway Station. Southampton Airport

By Bus

First Bus Solent Blue Line By Coach National Express Megabus

Map

Click Here to see Southampton Guildhall on a map

Maintenence work

Discover information about the improvment work currently taking place outside the Guidhall

Venue Address: Southampton Guildhall West Marlands Road Civic Centre Southampton SO14 7LP

Box Office: 02380 632601

Customer Enquiries: southamptonguildhall.boxoffice@livenation.co.uk

Venue Manager: Mandy Fields | General Manager | Tel: 023 8083 2775 | Fax: 08707 492354 | Email: mandy.fields@livenation.co.uk

Venue Assistant Manager: James Hennebry | Assistant Manager | Tel: +44 2380 832289 | Fax:+44 8707 492354 | Email: jameshennebry@livenation.co.uk

Operations Department: Les Turner | Operations Manager | Tel: 023 8083 2289 | Email: les.turner@livenation.co.uk

Box Office: Carolynn Freeman | Box Office Manager | Tel: 023 8083 2246 (Direct Line) | Box Office: 023 8063 2601 | Fax: 08707 492354 | Email: carolynn.freeman@livenation.co.uk

Marketing: Leah Lloyd | Marketing Manager | Tel: 023 8083 3112 | Fax: 08707 492354 | Email: leah.lloyd@livenation.co.uk

Technical Department: Simon Williams | Senior Technician | Tel: 023 8083 2286 | Fax: 023 8083 2009 | Email: simon.williams@livenation.co.uk

Bars: Mark Doncaster | Bars Manager | Tel: 023 8083 2622 | Fax: 08707 492354 | Email: mark.doncaster@livenation.co.uk

Administration: Judy Amandini | Administrator | Tel: 023 8083 2453 | Fax: 08707 492354 | Email: judy.amandini@livenation.co.uk

OUR BOX OFFICE IS LOCATED IN THE NORTHGUILD BY THE CITY LIBRARY & ART GALLERY IN COMMERCIAL ROAD OPENING TIMES: Monday to Friday 9.00am - 6.00pm Saturday 9.00am - 5.00pm Sunday - CLOSED

During these hours you can call the Box Office: Tickets: 023 8063 2601 Group Bookings: 023 8083 3612 Fax: 023 8083 3612

Booking Fee Up to £6.50 = 60 pence / £6.51 to 12.50 = £1.10 / £12.51 to £24.99 = £1.60 / £25.00 to £49.99 = £2.10 (Booking fees for standard shows, occasional events may incur different charges)

On the night of the event: The Box Office in The Guildhall itself opens approximately 1 hour before the show.

By Post: Give the name of the show of your choice. Enclose Cheque/Postal Order payable to Southampton Guildhall plus £1.20 post/handling or £4.75 for standing concerts. Alternatively Contact our Call Centre Ticketmaster on 0870 160 2856. Lines are open 24 hours a day

Group Booking: Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more on many shows.

Special Offers & Discounts: All special offers and discounts apply to full price tickets only and only one offer per ticket. The Guildhall reserves the right to introduce or withdraw prices and discounts without notice.

Refunds: Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded. Tickets may in some circumstances be accepted for resale, subject to a charge of £2.50. Guildhall sales take priority.

Rock/Pop Concerts: No reservations will be taken without full payment. All standing tickets sent by post will have proof of purchase obtained by the Box Office, therefore entry into the event will be refused on the night without a ticket. Use our box office facilities for YOUR event.

You do not need to hold your event at Southampton Guildhall to use our box office. Southampton Guildhall and its friendly staff have had vast experience in selling tickets for other venues and events.

USE OF BOX OFFICE: Use our box office for your advance ticket sales. In addition, use our staff to run an on site box office for your event. Please contact the Box Office Management team on 02380 832611

TYPES OF EVENTS STAFF HAVE PREVIOUSLY WORKED:

• Isle of Wight Festival

• Somerley

• Southampton City Art Gallery

• Community Theatre

• Cinemas

• Universities

• Dinner Dances

• St Pauls Cathedral

• The Joiners

To advertise your event, you may choose to use the general box office telephone number or we can arrange a specially dedicated number for bookers to call on. For further details on hiring the Guildhall Box Office please call 02380 832611 or email; Box Office Manager - carolynn.freeman@livenation.co.uk

Venue History

Proposals to build a 'Town Hall' existed in 1878 and after 51 years of discussion the construction work began in 1929. In 1934 the decision to build the Guildhall was made and work was started taking nearly three years to complete due to the scarcity of material and labour as a result of WWII.

In 1937 a brand new state-of-the-art Guildhall, built in classical style of the 1930s, was opened by the 17th Earl of Derby and is today part of a Grade 2* listed building. Incorporated into the building of the Guildhall was the John Compton Dual Console Pipe Organ unique instrument taking two years to build and is probably worth around £1 million.

The organ survived WWII without a scratch even when an unexploded bomb landed right in the centre of the hall. It is still in working order and played at Civil and graduation ceremonies.

The Guildhall's resident Bert Osborne Band, in true theatrical tradition, insisted that the show must go on and played regularly throughout the war years and after; great artists including Paul Robson, Beniamino Gigli graced the stage along with many others, musicians, pop stars, comedians, jazz and military bands and so on.

In the seventies a different sound arrived at the Guildhall - Rock Bands bringing Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, and David Bowie. In the early eighties the Guidhall attracted artistes from America, Gloria Gaynor, Victor Borge, and live broadcasting with the BBC Antiques Roadshow.

In 1989 the good news came that the Guildhall was to be refurbished, enhancing its facilities to meet the challenges of entertainment needs, taking it into the 21st century. Southampton Guildhall is now the South's largest multipurpose entertainment venue combining Comedy, Classical Orchestras, Family Entertainment and Rock/Pop.

The most popular events still remain in Rock & Pop, with sell out shows from some of the biggest names through the nineties Blur, Oasis, The Charlatans, and Prodigy, and into the 21st century with today's top bands - Southampton-born Craig David, Toploader, Faithless, Suede, Daniel Bedingfield and Sugababes.

Venue Info

BOX OFFICE: 02380 632601

Southampton Guildhall is the city's largest multi-functional venue with smaller venues adjacent. Whether you are organising a major conference, exhibition, banquet, show, concert, live television or radio, a meeting or a wedding, the Guildhall through its experience and expertise can effectively host your event.

Two attractive bars areas are situated adjacent to the main auditorium in original 1930s art deco surroundings. The Guildhall has facilities for wheelchair users and the disabled.

Hire the Guildhall, Solent Suite or Lecture Theatre for your event. Call either: Judy Amandini (Administrator) on 023 8083 2453, Mandy Fields (Venue Manager) on 023 8083 2775 or Les Turner on 023 8083 2289 to discuss your event or arrange a tour of the rooms available.

The Guildhall can seat up to 1,271 people or take up to 1,749 for a standing concert. We can seat any number up to 600 for dinner. The Solent Suite, a smaller venue within the complex can accommodate 200 for the smaller party or wedding reception.

Our caterers offer a wide selection of menus with dishes to suit all tastes and budgets' Click here to be taken to Wise Catering's website and view their menus.

LOOKING FOR A VENUE TO HOST YOUR EVENT? Then look no further, Southampton Guildhall is the prefect venue to host your party, concert, wedding reception, dinner or conference. With two other smaller venues within the Guildhall, there is a venue to suit all events.

See our Venue Hire Brochure for more information. The Guildhall Hirer's brochure gives full details of the facilities available, including; Guildhall Statistics; Technical Equipment; Sample menus and wine lists.

Click Here to download our Venue Hire Brochure now

If you require a brochure sent by post, including hire costs etc please email leah.lloyd@livenation.co.uk with your address and include what type of event you would like to bring to the venue.

HOTELS

Jurys Inn

Charlotte Place, Southampton, SO14 0TB

Tel: +44 (0) 23 8037 1111

Special Rates for Guildhall patrons

Website

White Star Tavern Dining & Rooms

28 Oxford Street Southampton SO14 3DJ

Reservations: 023 8082 1990

Special Rates for Guildhall patrons

Website

Holiday Inn

Herbert Walker Avenue, Southampton, SO15 1HJ

Front Desk: 44-870-4009073

Website

Hilton Southampton

Bracken Place, Chilworth, Southampton, SO16 3RB

Tel: 02380 702700 Special rates for Guildhall patrons, please ask when booking.

Website

The White Horse

Market Place, Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 8ZJ

TEL: 01794 512431

Special rates for Guildhall patrons, please ask when booking.

Website

Southampton Park Hotel

Cumberland Place, Southampton, SO15 2WY

Tel: 02380 343 343

Website

RESTAURANTS

Joe Daflo's - 023 8023 1101 61 Commercial Road

Tosca's - 023 8057 2844 44 Commercial Road

Pizza Bites - 023 8022 5919 52 Commercial Road

Buon Gusto - 023 8033 1543 1 Commercial Road

La Cantina - 023 8022 0500 53-5a Bedford Place

Bella Italia - 023 8033 9215 19 Hanover Buildings

Lizard Lounge & Apartment 26 - 023 8063 2604 28a Bedford Place

Thai Cafe Pattaya - 023 8033 0911 9 Commercial Road

Buffalo Bills - 023 8023 6699 12 Commercial Road

Encore - 023 8022 5687 22 Commercial Road

Ask - 023 8033 8588 Rank Leisure World, West Quay Road

Bengal Brasserie - 023 8023 0988 7 Bedford Place

Langley's Bistro - 023 8022 4551 10 Bedford Place

Natraj Balti - 023 8036 6344 3 Winchester Street

Pride of India - 023 8033 3978 19 Bedford Place

TAXIS

Radio Taxis Tel: 023 8066 6666

Streamline Tel: 023 8022 3355

ATS Tel: 023 8022 2222

A2B Taxis Tel: 023 8022 3450

City Cars Tel: 023 8044 4444

Central Shirley Cabs Tel: 023 8039 3939

Executive Limousines Tel: 0845 226 0741

For more information on Southampton, visit the official tourism website www.visit-southampton.co.uk

Full level access to the Guildhall can be made via a purpose built ramp to the right of the Main Entrance. Space is available for wheelchair users in the auditorium at concerts and at stand-up concerts we have a viewing platform for wheelchair users. Please inform the box office of your requirements at the time of booking. Full level toilet facilities are located on the ground floor of the Guildhall auditorium.

For wheelchair users performing on stage there is a motorised lift available on request. There are two allocated parking spaces available in the venue car park for concert attendees with disable badges. Guide Dogs are welcome. Please inform the box office at the time of booking.

The Southampton Guildhall aims to review and improve its disable facilities to meet the needs of all our customers. Specific requests or comments regarding access/personal needs should go through the Guildhall Management Team who will endeavour to accommodate them. Contact numbers can be found on the contact page.

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Local Venues

The Brook
The Joiners
The Mayflower
Soul Cellar
Unit 22
Talking Heads
Orange Rooms
Junk Club

Hamptons 

Promoters

Advance Promotions

Metropolis Music

Local Bands

DEAD DEAD DEAD
The Ramblings
Jazica

Local Radio Stations

Wave 105 FM

Play Radio UK

Fire FM

BBC Radio Solent

Castledown Radio

Sin Radio 

Galaxy

Heart

The Quay

Eagle Radio & County Sound

Local Press

The Daily Echo

The Bournemouth Echo

Hampshire Chronicle

The News, Portsmouth

Basingstoke Gazette

Petersfield Post

Observer Series Online

Magazines

Southampton Music Magazine

Listed Magazine

Local Information/Tourism

Southampton Cityweb
lymington.com
visit-southampton.co.uk

Colleges & Universities

City College Southampton

University of Southampton

Recommended Caterers

Wise Catering

Health Clubs

Spirit Health Club

Cinemas

Harbour Lights Picturehouse

Due to the sheer volume of enquiries, and our current lack of resources, the technical department are sadly unable to offer any kind of work experience or voluntary placements at the moment.

Vacancies do however occasionally arise for casual technicians. We don’t normally advertise when we are looking to recruit, but instead keep a file of application forms from interested individuals. Due to the nature of casual employment, it is difficult for us to say when we might need to recruit, and due to some basic training being required before commencement of work, for financial reasons we tend to wait until we have multiple vacancies.

If you would be interested in applying for a casual technician post next time we recruit, please have a look at the job description and person specification below, and if you feel you meet the criteria, please return a completed application form either by fax 023 8083 2009, or by post to Simon Williams, Southampton Guildhall, West Marlands Road, Southampton, SO14 7LP.

Please note it is Live Nations policy to keep application forms on file for four months, after which they are confidentially destroyed.

Thank-you for your interest in the department.

Click here to download the job description and person specification

Click here to download an application form

Below is a list of other local venues and supply companies you may also wish to consider contacting:

Theatres/ arts centres:

The Mayflower Theatre

The Nuffield Theatre

The Point

Theatre Royal

The Anvil

City Hall

Salisbury Playhouse

Guildhall

Ferneham Hall

Kings Theatre

Music Venues:

The Joiners

The Brook

The Talking Heads

Soul Cellar

Wedgewood Rooms

Crew companies:

Stage One Services & AAA Crew

Lighting rental:

GLS Light & Sound Production

Sound rental:

BCS Audio

Rigbee Public Address

Avenue Audio

Lighting & Sound rental:

AJS Theatre lighting & Stage Supplies

Stagecraft

MCM Lite Relief Production Company

Whitwam

Prestech Presentation Technology

Recording Studio’s

Factory Road Studio’s

Untapped Talent

Shelter Studios Ltd

All your requirements should be discussed well in advance with the department, so we may best advise you on how to make your event the best it can be, and ensure it meets your budget!

The department is technically responsible for all lighting, sound, a/v, crew, health and safety and production management of three main areas within the complex: the Guildhall, the Solent Suite and the Lecture Theatre - whether serviced directly, or overseeing external companies.

The Lecture Theatre is a 118-seat venue used mostly for meetings and basic lectures. The venue has basic sound, lighting and audio-visual equipment available.

The Solent Suite is a 250 capacity room, which is often also used as an over-spill area for the Guildhall, so on larger events, additional lighting, sound and draping may be brought in.  Discos, meetings, exhibitions, trade fairs and small dinner dances are also catered for.

The Guildhall is the main venue where most of the department’s energies are focused.  The venue’s main feature is its flexibility, although there is a fixed balcony within the back wall, the main auditorium is flat.  Its current maximum standing capacity is 1749, so it puts us on the 2000 capacity touring circuit for Rock and Roll tours - of which we typically do about 60 a year.  From flat floor, we can go to a fully seated auditorium, with a maximum capacity of 1290.  Between the two, we can cover everything from an organ concert, to a seated dinner, student ball, fashion show, dance event, conference or exhibition.

Technically, the venue has a basic infrastructure, predominantly orientated towards touring techniques. The FOH house sound system is capable of covering the entire auditorium, to a very reasonable lever, and is easily complemented with additional boxes for larger shows. Lighting is reasonable with onstage illumination coming from either a grid of open white cyc units for basic events, or a front and back pre-rig truss of Par's and specials. We can supplement all our systems by hiring additional equipment if the client has the budget.

As there is no fly tower, and wing space is minimal, we do not have suitable production facilities for full-scale theatre productions, and as such we do not fabricate staging, costumes or scenery etc.

The department strives to service every event individually; themed events are a speciality, with specific equipment hired in to complement some of the larger events, to the client’s requirements.  We also aim to service all private events through the department, and feel we can offer the best service to our clients, with our knowledge of the venue and its capabilities.

The Technical Department covers a very mixed programme of events, from school speech days, to large student balls with flown lighting, sound and themeing. Working with clients that are new to running events, clients that have been using the venue annually for many years, through to touring professionals, promoters and self-contained productions.

LIGHTING
Dimming – 156 circuits Avolites ART 4000
    Control – Chamsys MQ100 + wing, Zero 88 Sirius 24,
    Colour medium – over 40 colours in stock from LEE
Luminaires – About 200 P64 cans, 16 x 1kw single cyc units, 6 x Source 4 15-30 zooms, 4 x 4 lite DWE blinders, ACL’s, 4 x Atomic strobes, 6 x 400w UV gun's
Other – 32” Mirror Ball, smoke and haze machines
Followspots – 2 x Robert Juliat ‘Korrigan’ 5° - 9° 1200w HMI

SOUND
Main PA – L’Acoustics dV DOSC
Mixing – Midas Venice 240, Yamaha O1V
    Muilticore – 40ch send 20ch return
    Outboard – Behringer, Rane, Dynacord and Yamaha
Mic's – Shure SM58, SM57, BETA 52A, Shure Premier radio system, AKG 747, C1000’s
    Playback – Tape, CD, Minidisk, Tascam and Denon
    PA – 12 x L’Acoustics dV-DOSC, 4 x DV subs + in fill’s

STAGING
    Main stage 48’W x 27’D x 3’6”H (fixed)
    Stage height 28’
    Black walls, ceiling, flooring, backdrop and truss boarders
Additional staging – up to 12 x 6’ x 4’ Steeldeck, 6 x 8’ x 4’ Steeldeck

POWER
    Various single and three phase supplies for house equipment
Production and exhibition power from 13A up to 200A 3 phase
    Various distribution units available

HARDWARE
    Various 13A, 15A, 16A, 32A, 63A and 125A TRS
    Various Socapex, fan-outs
    Stage weights and braces
Rigging - Spanset's, Shackles, Steels, O Rings etc.
Trussing – Pre rig and 20” box
Motors – 8 x 1 ton Morris, 8 x 1 ton Lodestar, 2 x 1 ton Verlinde, 6 x 500kg Verlinde Tirlift

DIMENSIONS
    Auditorium - 114’L x 72’W x 48’H (approx)
    Stage – 48’7” W x 26’3”D x 27’11”H (approx)

We can also dry hire equipment to any specification

Technical specifications

Documents:

Stage fly bar and truss heights and contents

In house lighting equipment

In house (Lee) colour stock

In house sound equipment

In house production electrical supplies

Plans:

Stage dimensions (plan view)

Stage fly bar and truss positions

Basic stage pre-rig truss lighting plan

Stage roof rigging plan 1

Stage roof rigging plan 2

Auditorium dimensions (plan view)

Auditorium dimensions (side elevation)

Auditorium hanging points

Click here to download our ‘Safety & Technical Procedures for Visiting Productions’

Click here to download Adobe Acrobat (PDF) viewer

Click here for a slideshow on Flickr of show images the technical department have serviced in the Guildhall