Southampton Guildhall
{{Short description|Multipurpose venue in Southampton, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = O2 Guildhall Southampton
| nickname =
| image = Night exterior Southampton guildhall.jpg
| image_caption = Exterior at night
| image_size = 250
| pushpin_map = Southampton
| pushpin_mapsize =
| pushpin_map_caption = O2 Guildhall in Southampton
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_relief =
| address = W Marlands Rd
Southampton SO14 7LP
England
| location = Civic Centre
| coordinates = {{Coord|50.908154|-1.406003|typ:landmark_region:GB|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| type =
| genre =
| built =
| opened = {{Start date|1937|02|13|df=yes}}
| renovated =
| expanded =
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner = Southampton City Council
(operated by Live Nation UK)
| construction_cost =
| former_names = Southampton Guildhall (1937-2013)
| seating_type =
| seating_capacity = 1,749
| website = {{URL|http://www.o2guildhallsouthampton.co.uk/}}
}}
Southampton Guildhall (branded the O2 Guildhall Southampton) is a multipurpose venue which forms the East Wing of the Civic Centre in Southampton, England. There are three venues in the Guildhall catering for various event formats: the Guildhall itself, the Solent Suite and a lecture theatre.{{cite web|url=https://www.cvent.com/venues/southampton/entertainment-venue/o2-guildhall-southampton/venue-ca0a6969-0732-4293-869d-04d9816a3a71|title=O2 Guildhall Southampton|publisher=Cevent|access-date=27 August 2019}}
History
The Guildhall, which was designed with a large portico with six Ionic order columns with pediment above, was intended to complement the rest of the Civic Suite and was opened by the Earl of Derby on 13 February 1937.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/14291015.photos-southampton-civic-centre-through-the-years/|title=Southampton Civic Centre through the years|date=21 February 2016|publisher=Southern Daily Echo|access-date=27 August 2019}} Internally, the principal room was the main hall which was {{convert|143|feet}} long, {{convert|71|feet}} wide and {{convert|38|feet}} high.
It contains a pipe organ, designed by John Compton, which was installed shortly before the opening of the building.{{cite web |title=Unique Compton pipe organ |url=http://www.guildhall-compton.org.uk |website=Unique Compton pipe organ |access-date=10 December 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cinema-organs.org.uk/venues/southampton-guildhall/|title=Southampton Guildhall|publisher=The Cinema Organ Society|access-date=23 August 2020}} The organ is unusual in that it has two distinct consoles: a classical concert organ and a theatre organ. The consoles share the same body of pipes which are housed in chambers above the proscenium arch. At some 4,000 pipes it was also the largest organ ever made by Compton.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/hampshire/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8391000/8391691.stm|title=Second wind for Guildhall's organ|publisher=BBC|date=4 December 2009|access-date=15 November 2020}}
The guildhall was used to accommodate French troops, who had escaped from France in June 1940 during the Dunkirk evacuation. During the Southampton Blitz in November 1940, the Guildhall was damaged by a bomb that fell at the rear of the hall causing damage to the rooms behind the stage and killing one person. Another bomb penetrated into the basement below the stage before exploding. The building was also hit by numerous incendiary devices. The Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, visited the guildhall during a tour of the city in January 1941 and it was used for high-level military conferences in spring and summer 1944 in anticipation of the Normandy landings which were coordinated from Southwick House.{{cite web|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/read-this/how-southwick-house-was-unlikely-springboard-d-day-398334|title=How Southwick House was the unlikely springboard for D-Day|date=3 June 2019|publisher=Yorkshire Post|access-date=15 November 2020}}
A new sprung floor was installed in the main hall in 1955 enabling the guildhall to become a major music venue. Leading performers at the guildhall included rock bands, The Rolling Stones, in March 1964,{{cite web|url=http://www.nzentgraf.de/books/tcw/1964.htm|title=1964|publisher=Rolling Stones Database|access-date=23 August 2020}} and The Who, in October 1971,{{cite web|url=http://www.thewholive.net/concert/index.php?id=1962|title=Southampton Guildhall|date=18 October 1971|publisher=The Who Concert Guide|access-date=23 August 2020}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c5yUA_S5pGoC&pg=PA303 |title=Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere: The Complete Chronicle of the WHO 1958–1978|first1=Andrew |last1=Neill|first2= Matthew|last2= Kent |year= 2009 |page=303|publisher=Sterling Publishing Company|isbn=978-1402766916}} and singer-songwriter, David Bowie, in March 1972 during his Ziggy Stardust Tour.{{cite web|url=http://www.davidbowieworld.nl/mijn-bootlegs-2-2/tour-recordings/1972-1973-the-ziggy-stardust-tour/attachment/folder-11/|title=The Ziggy Stardust Tour|publisher=David Bowie World|access-date=23 August 2020}}
On 7 October 2013, the venue was renamed to the O2 Guildhall Southampton, reflecting a partnership between Live Nation UK and O2 Telefónica.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-24427083 |title=Southampton Guildhall renaming 'cheapens' venue |author= |date=7 October 2013 |website=BBC News Online |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=29 November 2013}}