Becketwell Live ‘golden’ seat milestone moment

Article posted by Coliseum, January 3^rd, 2025

Image: Derby City Council

The Becketwell Live (event venue in Derby, England, UK) has moved a step closer to completion as the final auditorium seat was fixed into place with a special ‘golden’ seat made for the occasion.

‘Derby City Council’ stated that the Main Contractor Bowmer + Kirkland (B+K), the developer St James Securities Limited (a Commercial Real Estate company located in United Kingdom), the building owner Derby City Council (the local authority for the City of Derby in England, UK), and the venue management company ASM Global were there to mark the occasion and joined by a selection of representatives from B+K’s supply chain who had all worked together to get the project to this stage.

At the heart of Derby, the Becketwell Live is a dynamic new destination for concerts, family events, sports and conferencing, opening 2025. The Becketwell Live will host concerts, family events and more within a state-of-the-art 3,500-capacity auditorium plus an array of premium seating and hospitality experiences.

Heage (UK)-based the Bowmer + Kirkland Group (B+K) are one of United Kingdom’s most successful, privately-owned construction and development groups. Established in 1923, the group now comprise 25 companies most of which are construction-related.

Los Angeles (US)-based ASM Global is the world’s leading venue management company and producer of live event experiences. With over 400+ premier venues spanning worldwide they operate and invest in the world’s most important stadiums, arenas, convention centers, and theaters including entertainment districts and mixed-use developments.

‘Derby City Council’ further stated that with the handover date of January 2025 only few weeks away the £45.8m venue is almost ready to welcome entertainment seekers from across the City (Derby) and the wider East Midlands. Work between now and practical completion includes testing and commissioning including 150 acoustic tests.

The main auditorium has flat floor seating, a lower tier of retractable bleacher seating, an upper tier of fixed seating, and there is a ring of VIP seating on the central and side balconies – enabling a capacity audience of 3,500 to enjoy the range of concerts, family and comedy shows, theater performances, and more that the venue will host.

Investing back into the local area has been at the heart of the project. Of the 1,424 people who have worked on site, 51 percent are from within 20 miles of Derby and over the span of the whole project, £5.3m has been spent within the local area. The project has supported 36 apprentices and T-Level students equating to 506 weeks of on-the-job training.

A ‘T-Level student’ refers to a student in England who is undertaking a ‘T-Level’ qualification, a two-year technical course designed to provide practical skills and industry-specific knowledge.

Remarked Robert Kirkland, Bowmer + Kirkland Life President, “The Becketwell Live has been an important scheme for us all. It has continued a longstanding relationship we have with the City of Derby, it will bring vibrancy and much-needed commerce to this area of the City and we are all very proud to have been part of this exciting development.”

Put in Paul Morris, Development Director at St James Securities, “We are thrilled to see the Becketwell Live entertainment, events and conference venue reach this important milestone. This project represents a significant step forward in revitalizing Derby’s City Centre and providing a state-of-the-art facility that will serve the people of Derby and the wider region. We are proud to have created a scheme that will bring new energy to the City and provide a platform for a diverse range of performances and events. This is an exciting moment for Derby and we look forward to seeing the venue open its doors in 2025.”

Commented Councilor Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council and Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Strategy and Policy, “Installing the final seat is a huge and very exciting step in the Becketwell journey bringing us closer to realizing our vision of transforming Derby into a vibrant City Centre that puts culture at the forefront. We’re looking forward to welcoming audiences from across the region into the City Centre to enjoy a variety of performances and functions with tickets already on sale for some of next year’s shows. A huge thanks to all of our partners and everyone involved for getting us to this stage in the journey – the final seat is in place but this is just the beginning for Becketwell Live.”

Maintained Marcus Sheehan, Manager at ASM Global, “The installation of the final seat is a major milestone bringing us one step closer to opening our doors to the people of Derby. We’ve already begun announcing our first confirmed events for 2025 and beyond here at Becketwell featuring live music, comedy, and more. The future here is bright and we’re committed to delivering the very best guest experiences and unforgettable live entertainment. I look forward to seeing you all in a packed-out auditorium very soon!”

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