Development timeline

March 2018

Submission of Phase 2 application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund

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.

Exterior image of Neville Hall

July 2021

Building re-opens

The building officially opened its doors in July 2021; slightly delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Along with the core programme we 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 officially opened its doors in July 2021; slightly delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Along with the core programme we 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.

Summer 2021

Opening Festival

We marked the launch of The Common Room with an exciting opening festival with installations inspired by the project despite the restrictions of operating under Covid-safe conditions.

We marked the launch of The Common Room with an exciting opening festival with installations inspired by the project despite the restrictions of operating under Covid-safe conditions.