BRISTOL’S RENOWNED music venue, Colston Hall, formally named after Edward Colston has been renamed after protests and petitions for it to sever ties to the 17th century slave trader.

From today, the venue will be named the Bristol Beacon.

The name was chosen following a public consultation, which followed the decision to change the name three-years ago.

Louise Mitchell, chief executive of Bristol Music Trust, described the announcement as looking to the future with hope.

“We’ve long been at the centre of discussion in the city around the use of the name Colston and we were the first organisation to announce our intention to move away from this association,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell spoke of the resistance against the decision to change the name, citing that critics levelled accusations of erasure and censorship of history but outlined the importance of the change.

“The organisation and the city can’t continue to be held back by this historic association. The name has meant that the building is a place where some have felt unwelcome or that they did not belong, be they artists or audiences,” Mitchell said.

The venue, which has hosted performances for more than 150 years and entertained more than 300,000 a year, did not receive any funding for its creation from Colston, Mitchell said.

“Inclusive narrative”

“This name change is a chance to be free to write our own inclusive narrative, one that puts the unity and the joy of live music at the heart of what we do.”

Bristol’s confrontation of its slave trade history made international headlines following the toppling of the Edward Colston statue in the city’s centre in June. The toppling took place during a Black Lives Matter protest.

The music hall is currently under redevelopment.

Bristol’s mayor Marvin Rees also spoke during the live stream this morning.

He emphasised the importance of building a city for everyone and making sure that whatever people’s thoughts on the name change they understand an “inclusive, just and fair process” took place.

A poem written by Bristol city poet Vanessa Kisuule was recited by Bristolians before the name was unveiled.