31 October 2007 - Day 2



The revamped Southbank Centre and restored Royal Festival Hall.

Following a three-year, £111m (€150m) refurbishment and renovation programme, the revitalised Southbank Centre is now a destination in its own right. A new riverside plaza incorporates restaurants and shops, attracting millions of visitors annually while providing commercial rents to the owners of the largest arts complex in Europe.

At the heart of the redevelopment is the fully restored Royal Festival Hall. Original features of the Grade-1 listed structure have been restored, with the focus on customer quality, service and amenity issues and a stunning acoustic treatment. The Royal Festival Hall, one of London’s best-loved venues, has been brought into the 21st century in a reworked building that focuses on the visitor experience.

This summer sees the installation of the Southbank Centre’s urban beach and outdoor cinema – all designed to reach out to as many new visitors as possible.

After the networking and behind-the-scenes guided tour of the revitalised venue, it’s back to business on Wednesday 31 October for four conference sessions, closing with an open forum debate and social event that evening.