Main Contractor Bowmer + Kirkland, developer St James’ Securities, building owner Derby City Council and venue management company ASM Global were there to mark the occasion and joined by a selection of representatives from B+K’s supply chain who had all worked together to get the project to this stage.

With the handover date of January 20 only seven weeks away, the £45.8m venue is almost ready to welcome entertainment seekers from across the city and the wider East Midlands. Work between now and practical completion includes testing and commissioning, including 150 acoustic tests.

The main auditorium has flat floor seating, a lower tier of retractable bleacher seating, an upper tier of fixed seating and there is a ring of VIP seating on the central and side balconies – enabling a capacity audience of 3,500 to enjoy the range of concerts, family and comedy shows, theatre performances, and more that the venue will host

Investing back into the local area has been at the heart of the project. Of the 1,424 people who have worked on site, 51% are from within 20 miles of Derby and over the span of the whole project, £5.3m has been spent within the local area. The project has supported 36 apprentices and T-Level students equating to 506 weeks of on-the-job training.

Robert Kirkland, Bowmer + Kirkland Life President, who was at today’s ceremony, said: “Becketwell Performance Venue has been an important scheme for us all. It has continued a long-standing relationship we have with the city of Derby, it will bring vibrancy and much-needed commerce to this area of the city and we are all very proud to have been part of this exciting development.”

Paul Morris, Development Director at St James Securities said: “We are thrilled to see the Becketwell entertainment, events and conference venue reach this important milestone. This project represents a significant step forward in revitalising Derby’s city centre and providing a state-of-the-art facility that will serve the people of Derby and the wider region.

“We are proud to have created a scheme that will bring new energy to the city and provide a platform for a diverse range of performances and events.

"This is an exciting moment for Derby, and we look forward to seeing the venue open its doors in 2025."

Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council and Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Strategy and Policy said: “Installing the final seat is a huge and very exciting step in the Becketwell journey, bringing us closer to realising our vision of transforming Derby into vibrant city centre that puts culture at the forefront.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming audiences from across the region into the city centre to enjoy a variety of performances and functions, with tickets already on sale for some of next year’s shows. A huge thanks to al of our partners and everyone involved for getting us to this stage in the journey - the final seat is in place but this is just the beginning for Becketwell Live.”

Marcus Sheehan, Manager at ASM Global said " The installation of the final seat is a major milestone bringing us one step closer to opening our doors to the people of Derby. We’ve already begun announcing our first confirmed events for 2025 and beyond here at Becketwell, featuring live music, comedy, and more. The future here is bright, and we’re committed to delivering the very best guest experiences and unforgettable live entertainment. I look forward to seeing you all in a packed-out auditorium very soon!"