The Anvil, Basingstoke
 The Anvil, Basingstoke in 2008. View of the south side of the theatre from the footbridge over Churchill Way. | |
| Address |
Churchill Way Basingstoke |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°16′00″N 1°05′20″W / 51.266677°N 1.088933°W |
| Owner | The Anvil Trust Ltd., Registered Charity |
| Type | Multi-purpose venue |
| Capacity | 1,400 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | April 1994 |
| Architect | Nicholas Thompson of RHWL |
| Website | |
| www.anvilarts.org.uk | |
The Anvil is a concert hall and a performing arts centre in the town of Basingstoke in Hampshire, UK.
Built on a site originally set aside for the third phase of Basingstoke's shopping centre, The Anvil was built to tackle what was then seen as a 'cultural desert' in the Basingstoke area. The aim of the project was to raise the profile of the Borough and to establish it as a major regional centre with a range of first class facilities. The building's name reflects its unusual shape, particularly when seen from the western approach which somewhat resembles the horn end of a traditional blacksmith's anvil. The hall has adjustable seating and acoustics plus a removable proscenium to cater for different performance types. There is a small second auditorium, The Forge. The acoustic design was by Richard Cowell of Arup Acoustics.