Works commence on multi-million refurbishment of Stephenson Memorial Hall

G F Tomlinson has started the delivery of construction works to revitalise the Stephenson Memorial Hall in Chesterfield.

Breathing new life into the Grade II listed Corporation Street site, the £19m refurbishment will transform the landmark venue into a cultural tourism hotspot in the area.

Once complete, the state-of-the-art facility will provide an unrivalled arts and entertainment offering in Chesterfield, with an expanded museum, reconfigured theatre, new community spaces and an enhanced café bar.

Following funding from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, the project was announced in 2021 and has been in development ever since, with an estimated completion in 2025. To allow for preparatory works, the Museum and Theatre closed in 2022 to allow the extensive museum collection to be moved into long term storage and for asbestos removal and ground investigations.

The refurbishment aims to preserve and celebrate the history of the building whilst providing a modern visitor experience. The new Corporation Street link gallery extension is set to create a gateway to enhance the arrival to Chesterfield,  lighting will help provide a vibrant street presence.

The historic doorway under the tower will also be reopened, creating a single entrance for visitors to explore the building. From the welcome foyer guests will be able to access an introductory museum space, enjoy retail space, the auditorium and café amenities.

The auditorium refurbishment includes increased capacity with new seating, environmental controls, lighting and stage rigging to enhance the visitor experience. Accessibility will also be improved with the addition of new lifts, seating options and a changing places toilet. Funding of £695,000 for a new ventilation system and Changing Places toilet has been secured through Arts Council England’s Capital Investment Programme.

Chris Flint, managing director at G F Tomlinson, said: “We’re delighted to be commencing the delivery of the multi-million-pound refurbishment of Stephenson Memorial Hall to revitalise this high-profile building into a cultural venue and tourism hot spot in Chesterfield.

“Works will include enhancements to the Corporation Street site, transforming the building into a landmark state-of-the-art facility in the town centre. Once complete, we look forward to the opportunities that this will bring to the local area, in terms of its arts and entertainment offering – with its expanded theatre, reconfigured museum, improved community spaces and café bar.”

Find out more about the project on the Chesterfield Borough Council website: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/business-and-economic-growth/regeneration-and-economic-growth/revitalising-the-heart-of-chesterfield/stephenson-memorial-hall-development