Community

Contractor Named for £7m Customs House Refurbishment

GMI Construction Group has been appointed to deliver the £7m transformation of the Grade II listed Customs House at Mill Dam, with construction due to begin later in 2026.

SouthShields.org·30 June 2026

Plans to transform The Customs House, South Shields' landmark arts venue at Mill Dam, have taken a major step forward. South Tyneside Council has appointed GMI Construction Group as principal contractor for the £7m refurbishment of the Grade II listed building, with work due to begin later in 2026.

What is planned

The riverside venue has been one of the North East's leading cultural spaces since it opened as an arts centre in 1994, housing a theatre, cinema, gallery, restaurant, and bar in a Victorian custom house dating from 1864. The refurbishment will see significant internal reconfiguration alongside the restoration of key heritage features.

Among the planned improvements are new rehearsal and performance spaces, enhanced food and drink facilities overlooking the River Tyne, better accessibility throughout the building, and a new glass entrance designed to create a more welcoming arrival. A light-filled atrium will link buildings across Daltons Lane, and the neighbouring workshop spaces will be refurbished and extended to provide flexible areas for performances, rehearsals, and community activities.

Best for: Work is being delivered in phases to keep the venue open and minimise disruption to its programme of shows, films, and events while construction is under way.

Part of wider regeneration

The project forms part of South Tyneside Council's broader plans to regenerate South Shields town centre and riverside, supported by £20m secured through the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund. The aim is to safeguard the future of one of the town's most-loved buildings and broaden what it can offer to audiences, performers, and community groups.

For visitors, it is business as usual for now: the box office, cinema, gallery, and Bella's Bar and Bistro all remain open. You can read more about what is on and how to plan a visit in our guide to The Customs House.

The appointment was reported by the Shields Gazette and confirmed by South Tyneside Council.

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Photo: Vincent van Zeijst, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.