Construction of Fareham Arts, Entertainment and Community Venue

Fareham Borough Council have commenced an ambitious project to remodel the existing Ferneham Hall. This will include significant partial demolition of the existing building, internal remodelling, new build elements, addition of a fly tower and external landscaping works.

The vision for the remodelled venue is to provide a busy community arts and entertainment centre which includes daytime and evening activity, seven days a week. This provision will be achieved through increased flexible community spaces, improved catering areas as well as a flexible studio space and secondary, smaller performance space.

A main 800 seat auditorium will enable the transformed venue to attract and host a dynamic range of touring productions as well as being available for hire to local amateur groups. The dynamic and innovative approach to programming will attract a wider range of customers to the venue and as result of its continued popularity the annual pantomime will be retained and developed as part of the overall revised programme offer.

The developed design of the building, the interior and exterior, will be attractive, modern and welcoming. Complementary to the other new buildings that will present themselves within the Civic Quarter.

In summary, notable interventions to the existing building include, but are not limited to:

Fully refurbished main auditorium

A full dynamic receiving space, with no less than 800 seats. Fully flexible to support various configurations to accommodate variable audience sizes and a wide variety of performances.

Remodelled foyer and interval space

Welcoming and full flexible arrival 'zone'. Functional as a gallery, host to pop up retail outlets as well as a meeting venue and a place to relax, eat, drink and enjoy art in its plurality.

In addition, the foyer will host the box office and accommodate ticket collection.

New second space

A secondary space with capacity for up to 120 seated individuals, for exhibitions, and smaller community performances with AV capability to live stream and/or show films.

New studio

To cater for class capacities of up to 25 with a range of classes from mindfulness, pilates to karate and ballet.

Improved food and beverage

Additional hospitality space and bar will be able to provide pre-theatre food and beverage and interval refreshments.

Meeting and administrative space

Formal bookable space, with capacity for 12 seated in conference style in order to provide flexibility and accommodate various meetings.

External works

Improved accessible parking opportunity as well as larger scale drop off. Localised landscaping will define journey's to and from the venue whilst providing a link with other Civic Quarter developments

Fareham Borough Council require a Principal Contractor to complete design and construction of the remodelled theatre. This scheme detail is outlined in the RIBA stage 4 information pack issued in Appendix B and supporting planning determination.