Fairfield Halls to re-open from this September!

September 16 2019 will mark the end of what has seemingly been a very long journey for Fairfield Halls. The venue will re-open following extensive refurbishment and will offer up South London’s largest arts centre to the borough of Croydon and beyond.

Sympathetically refurbished to its original 1962 splendour the venue will offer the perfect cultural experience from 10am until midnight daily. The community will be welcomed in to an open and bright new space, The Arnhem Foyer. A full program of free events are planned for the foyer; a series of lunchtime concerts, “audience with…” interviews (Ian Dale of LBC interviews Janet Street Porter, John Snow and Jenni Murray in the first season) , community choir, children’s music and movement classes, children’s band concerts and professional exhibitions (Windrush by Jim Grover Sept-Jan). Where there used to be offices overlooking the foyer there are now the original mezzanines. These mezzanines have been named after the old Davis and Empire theatres and offer a real vantage point. The Sun Lounge sees the original chandeliers replicated and rehung, with a two story drop they add a sense of style to what is now a fully fitted bar and lounge area with seating for over 100.

Across the venue there is a collection of pianos from Sevenoaks Hurstwood Farm, Phoenix Pianos. These fine instruments will have pride of place in the foyer, the new Fairfield Lounge (a customer priority and member only space located on the fourth floor where you can enjoy a private bar, restroom, table service, complimentary drink and nibbles on arrival and the opportunity to retreat from the hustle and bustle pre-show, interval and until midnight post show) and of course the Phoenix Concert Hall. The venue will be teaching the next generation of concert pianist in the Phoenix Piano Academy and for children aged 4-6 the Yamaha Music School will start its first term in November.

A delightful pre-show dining experience awaits in what was the second floor Maple room. The Terrace Bistro now opens up to a private roof terrace which will be stunning in warmer months but will also offer an abundance of light in to the space all year round. The Terrace Bistro is a purpose built restaurant space. What was the Fairfield room is now the Arthur Davison suite and the old Ashcroft room becomes the Yamaha Suite. Neither space have bars within them anymore making them large spaces ideal for receptions and meetings.

The car park beneath the venue is now linked to the main lift on the college green side of the building making access a lot easier. The lifts now stop at the upper foyer area so the old single wheelchair lift is no longer needed thankfully! Additional accessible toilets are located on all floors and a changing space has been added to the upper foyer. The car park will be operated by Q Parks and will open late 2019.

What will the program bring when we open I hear you ask? Well a lot… the Ashcroft Playhouse (renamed to give it a new life; Dame Peggy was a formidable actress and we wanted to recognise that with a focus on new theatre and musicals) will host some of the finest pieces of theatre on offer in the UK from companies such as Hull Truck, Theatre Royal York, Queens Theatre Hornchurch and New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich. Live broadcast cinema will also have its home in the Ashcroft so you can enjoy the RSC, National Theatre, Bolshoi Ballet and many other great events from the comfort of Croydon. The Phoenix Concert Hall will play host to amateur orchestras ,choirs and school groups from across London and the Surrey/Kent borders, our resident orchestra The London Mozart Players and our orchestra in partnership The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra present their own inimitable seasons. Other highlights from the first season include the BBC Symphony Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra and the Chavorenge Children’s Choir with members of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. Top name comedy and live music will be spread across the season and Christmas sees the pantomime moves to the Phoenix Concert Hall with the hit musical ONCE sitting down in the Ashcroft Playhouse for three weeks ahead of its UK tour.

Ticket prices across the venue start at £15. The Fairfield Fifteen price band will be released as soon as shows go on sale. Sign up to receive weekly on sale alerts our first brochure (released end of June 2019) at faifield.co.uk

Dates for your diary:

• Monday September 16 – open house, come and have a look around!
• Tuesday September 17 our first lunchtime concert in the foyer, all foyer events are free and open to all
• Wednesday September 18 we are thrilled to present the first concert back in the Phoenix Concert Hall, the LMP 70th Anniversary Gala Concert