March 2018
Development timeline
June 2018
The National Lottery Heritage Fund Awarded Granted
June - September 2018
Neville Hall welcomes over 34,500 visitors to the building during the Great Exhibition of the North
Neville Hall opened its doors to take part in the Great Exhibition of the North; our programme of events included Unfolding Theatre with an interactive exhibition - 'Multiverse Arcade'; Steve Mayes contributed a Lego timeline of Northern Innovation and several national engineering institutions joined forces to deliver their 'Great North Engineering Experience'.
Neville Hall opened its doors to take part in the Great Exhibition of the North; our programme of events included Unfolding Theatre with an interactive exhibition - 'Multiverse Arcade'; Steve Mayes contributed a Lego timeline of Northern Innovation and several national engineering institutions joined forces to deliver their 'Great North Engineering Experience'.
June - November 2018
£1.5 million match funding raised
A variety of funders came forward to support us and enabled us to match fund £1.5 million. Our supporters included: the Reece Foundation, the Platten Family Trust, Sir James Knott Trust, Charles Haywood Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, Sylvia Waddilove Foundation, Rowland Cookson Trust, the Leche Trust and the NA College.
A variety of funders came forward to support us and enabled us to match fund £1.5 million. Our supporters included: the Reece Foundation, the Platten Family Trust, Sir James Knott Trust, Charles Haywood Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, Sylvia Waddilove Foundation, Rowland Cookson Trust, the Leche Trust and the NA College.
June - November 2018
Prep phase for programme begins
Our programme of activity was kickstarted during the Great Exhibition of the North with the 'The SEAM' exhibition funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund; bringing industry and heritage partners together to collaborate and inspire the future workforce.
Our programme of activity was kickstarted during the Great Exhibition of the North with the 'The SEAM' exhibition funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund; bringing industry and heritage partners together to collaborate and inspire the future workforce.
November 2018
Permission to start the project from The National Lottery Heritage Fund grant
December 2018
Building closed and redevelopment work begins
April 2019 - Autumn 2020
"On the Road" programme of activity delivered
March 2019
Enabling works started
Thompsons of Prudhoe appointed to begin the initial works in preparation for the building refurbishment.
Thompsons of Prudhoe appointed to begin the initial works in preparation for the building refurbishment.
September 2019
Contractor appointed and building construction work begins
Brims construction won the contract to refurbish the building after a careful tender process. Building works commenced on the 23rd September 2019.
Brims construction won the contract to refurbish the building after a careful tender process. Building works commenced on the 23rd September 2019.
March 2021
Building re-opens
The building will officially open its doors to the public in March 2021. Along with the core programme we will provide first class conferencing and banqueting facilities and an awe inspiring venues for weddings and celebrations. The commercial activity will enable The Common Room to generate the revenue surpluses that will make the mission a possibility.
The building will officially open its doors to the public in March 2021. Along with the core programme we will provide first class conferencing and banqueting facilities and an awe inspiring venues for weddings and celebrations. The commercial activity will enable The Common Room to generate the revenue surpluses that will make the mission a possibility.
Spring 2021
Opening Festival
We will mark the launch of The Common Room with an exciting opening festival where you can expect to see installations inspired by the project.
We will mark the launch of The Common Room with an exciting opening festival where you can expect to see installations inspired by the project.
Find out more
