Member Article

Guildhall Place unveiled at Southampton’s Cultural Quarter

Grosvenor Britain & Ireland (Grosvenor) has re-opened the pedestrianised walkway that bi-sects the new Arts Complex and links Guildhall Square to East Park. It is the first time in three years that the link street which will be known as Guildhall Place, has been open.

Guildhall Place will provide improved links across the city centre and replaces a passageway that previously ran beneath the former Tyrrell and Green Department Store. The opening of Guildhall Place comes as Grosvenor’s phase of construction activity approaches completion.

The new walkway was unveiled by Grosvenor, Southampton City Council and tenants of the new complex, which include Nuffield Theatre, John Hansard Gallery and City Eye, in a ceremony on Tuesday.

This important milestone coincides with the council’s announcement that the new arts complex is to be named Studio 144. The number embeds it in the locality as it is part of the building’s address on Above Bar Street and studio is designed to evoke its multipurpose identity embracing theatre, visual arts, and film – a creative, cohesive, and community space. The fit out of Studio 144 is a Southampton City Council –led project with major funding from Arts Council England.

Studio 144 will be home to Southampton’s leading producing theatre company, Nuffield; internationally renowned contemporary art gallery, John Hansard Gallery which is part of the University of Southampton; and City Eye, Southampton’s inspirational promoter of film/video culture.

Councillor Simon Letts, Leader of Southampton City Council, said: “Opening this link is a significant milestone in the transformation of the Cultural Quarter. It connects the east and west side of the city and provides a direct route from the Civic Centre, across the park to Southampton Solent University. It also frames a fantastic view to the Clock Tower above the Civic Centre.

“We’re working on improving the connection into the park and will have this fully complete later this year.”

The scheme also boasts The Guildhall Apartments offering residents the first ever opportunity to live in this part of Southampton. Residents are expected to start moving in this spring. In addition, there are seven new restaurants and cafes catering for a broad range of tastes. They include Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Neighbourhood, Costa Coffee, Nandos, The Stable and Tapas Barcelona. The final operator, Mettricks Tea and Coffee, will open in Guildhall Place later in the spring.

Simon Armstrong, Project Director, Grosvenor Britain & Ireland, says: “The streets around the Arts Complex will stitch the new building into the existing streetscape and the Cultural Quarter. We’re looking forward to seeing some of the restaurant operators spill out with tables and chairs into Guildhall Place and to seeing a range of activities taking place in the new street, as an extension of Guildhall Square and the Park. Together, the openings will help consolidate this part of northern Above Bar as a great place in which local residents can live, work and enjoy their leisure time.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by David Wilson Homes .