Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth

Portsmouth Guildhall, a Neoclassical landmark, was originally completed in 1890 as Portsmouth Town Hall, designed by William Hill. Featuring a grand portico supported by Corinthian columns, a sculpted pediment depicting Britannia, and topped by a clock tower adorned with a Neptune statue, the building has long been a focal point of civic pride and architectural elegance.

After Portsmouth was elevated to city status in 1926, the structure was appropriately renamed Portsmouth Guildhall. The building endured significant damage during the Blitz on 10 January 1941, a period of sustained bombing by Nazi Germany, with only its external walls and tower surviving a devastating fire. It was then meticulously reconstructed in the 1950s by architect Ernest Berry Webber and reopened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1959.

Today, Portsmouth Guildhall is a thriving multi-purpose venue. It hosts a diverse array of events-from concerts and comedy acts to civic ceremonies like mayor-making and Freedom of the City award presentations. The venue also incorporates the Portsmouth Music Experience, exhibits on its rich civic past, and modern amenities such as The Square Kitchen café, conference facilities, and flexible event spaces.