Colston Hall removes lettering from venue exterior

Earlier this month, protesters toppled the statue of slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol, which sparked a new wave of people asking for the Colston Hall venue to be renamed.

The slave trader has numerous buildings and roads named after him throughout the city, and many people have been targeting the Colston Hall music venue to change its name asap following the removal of Colston's statue.

Colston Hall reaffirmed its commitment to changing its name by autumn in response to the protests, and this morning (15 June), the venue has confirmed the removal of the lettering at the venue entrance.

The statement posted on Colston Hall's socials read, "Today we took down the Colston Hall lettering from outside of the building. This is just one step on our road to announcing a new name for the venue in Autumn 2020. This is a symbolic moment & a public demonstration of the commitment we made three years ago to change our name."

Colston Hall's statement adds, "The name Colston has been divisive for many years and we have experienced strong views from both sides since our declaration in 2017 that we would be changing. We have worked hard since then to understand the issues involved and consult widely to find a new name. We believe we are here to share the unity and joy that music brings us. The hall was built 150 years after Colston’s death and not founded with any of his money. We cannot continue to be a monument to his memory."

"We have no wish to forget the past," the statement adds. "But when we re-open our redeveloped building as one of the best arts and educational venues in the country, it must be as a place that is welcoming to everyone."

They wrap up their statement by writing, "There is more to be done before we can announce our new name, and many of the actions that will follow won’t be so public. But today marks a big step on our journey and we are excited and hopeful as we look to our future."

Today we took down the Colston Hall lettering from outside of the building. This is just one step on our road to announcing a new name for the venue in Autumn 2020.
This is a symbolic moment & a public demonstration of the commitment we made 3 years ago to change our name. (1/5) pic.twitter.com/YuBJiOmA8W

— Colston Hall (@Colston_Hall) June 15, 2020

A petition was set up earlier this month to rename the music venue to Big Jeff Hall, after Bristol's legendary gig-goer Jeffrey Johns, aka Big Jeff. Big Jeff told NME of the petition, "Part of me feels flattered, but there’s also a part that feels overwhelmed. I’m being put on a pedestal and I don’t mind to a certain extent, but I don’t think I warrant having such a big space named after me."