Appeal to replace concert hall’s seats

After 30 years of continuous use, the 2,500 auditorium seats in Nottingham’s Royal Concert Hall need replacing.

The venue’s managing director, Robert Sanderson, has unveiled plans for an appeal to raise the £750,000 necessary to complete the ambitious restoration project.

He said: “The aim of our Big Red Seat Appeal is to raise the money to replace all the seats in the Royal Concert Hall auditorium.

“Since Elton John gave the inaugural concert to mark the opening of this magnificent venue back in November 1982, literally millions of people have come through our doors.

“Now, three decades on, the original seating requires some love and attention. It’s clear that complete seat replacement is the only option if we are to ensure the comfort of customers into the future.

“With the Royal Concert Hall celebrating its 30th anniversary in the autumn, this seems like the perfect time to launch a fundraising appeal which will directly benefit our loyal and much-valued audience.

“As a not-for-profit organisation, the public’s generous support will be absolutely vital in raising funds for this important appeal.”

Mr Sanderson said there were lots of ways people could get involved.

To help kick-start the appeal all visiting artists, including high profile celebrities, will be invited to ‘take a seat’ and support the appeal by being photographed sitting in an enormous Big Red Seat backstage.

Photographs and messages of support will be regularly posted on the concert hall’s website and social media pages.

Visitors can strike a pose and have their photograph taken in an even bigger Big Red Seat in the hall’s entrance foyer.

All photographs sent via email or Twitter to the appeal team will be entered into a prize draw.

If they are particularly entertaining, they might find themselves posted on the website www.trch.co.uk and weekly e-bulletins.

Donations can be made by phone, online or in person at the box office.

Everyone who donates £5 or more will automatically be entered into a monthly draw to win a pair of tickets to a forthcoming concert hall performance.