Royal Festival Hall reopens

Restored to its former glory by architect Allies and Morrison, the Royal Festival Hall is due to open its doors tonight for the official First Night Gala Concert.

The multi-million-pound refurbishment of the iconic, Grade I listed building on London’s Southbank, includes a brand new extension, a restoration of the 2788-seat auditorium, riverside cafes, rooftop terraces and the new Skylon restaurant designed by Conran & Partners.

The transformation received funding from the Arts Council England, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Mayor’s London Agencies, and forms part of a wider redevelopment of the Southbank Centre.