GMI Selected for South Shields Customs House Refurbishment

GMI has been chosen to refurbish the historic Customs House in South Shields. The contract, awarded by South Tyneside Council, was procured through the NEPO Framework, which covers 12 local authorities in the North East.

Built in 1863 and extended in 1878, the Customs House is a symbol of the town's maritime heritage. It was converted into an arts venue in the 1990s and now houses a 442-seat theatre, a 132-seat studio cinema, rehearsal rooms, gallery spaces, a restaurant, and a private dining suite. The project will add a new architectural glass entrance and an 'internal street' linking the Customs House with the adjacent Daltons Lane workshop, creating a communal hub for events.

The work involves internal reconfiguration and sensitive restoration of key heritage elements, with integrated extensions to create modern, accessible, multifunctional spaces for community, leisure, educational, and commercial use. The broader regeneration plan for the town is backed by £20m from the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund Round Three, which South Tyneside Council secured.

The project is expected to turn the building into a cultural destination for the region. No timeline or contract value was disclosed.