Octagon - Buxton Pavilion Gardens
The Octagon – Buxton Pavilion Gardens | Lighting, Staging & Technical Production by New Image Lighting Ltd
Ai Overview
The Octagon Hall is a key event space within the historic Pavilion Gardens in Buxton, Derbyshire. Originally constructed in 1875 as a concert hall by architect Robert Rippon Duke, it sits inside the Grade II*-listed Gardens which were first laid out in 1871 by Edward Milner (with earlier work by Joseph Paxton).
The venue underwent a major restoration project (costing around £3 million) and reopened in 2018, restoring much of its Victorian splendour and modernising services.
Venue Specifications & Capabilities
- Standing reception capacity: Up to 1,200 guests.
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Seated formal banquets / dinners: Up to 450 guests.
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Theatre style: Up to approx 1,000 seats.
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Classroom / conference layouts: Up to around 800 delegates.
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Built in 1875 with a cast and wrought iron frame and large glazed screens; structural strengthening was done during restoration to handle heavy loadings (including vintage-car auctions).
Key Features & Highlights
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A rare Victorian eight-sided (“octagon”) hall — architecturally distinctive and impressive for large events.
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Large stage area and adjacent Octagon Lounge/bar area, providing flexibility for gala dinners, awards ceremonies, concerts, conferences, fairs.
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The surrounding Pavilion Gardens provide a beautiful setting: 23 acres of Victorian gardens, lakes, fountains, river walks — ideal for outdoor receptions, photos, breakout spaces.
Historical & Heritage Notes
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The Pavilion Gardens were opened in 1871 to the public, on land gifted by the 7th Duke of Devonshire; the Octagon Concert Hall followed a few years later to provide entertainment in the spa town.
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The Octagon Hall is part of the northern building range of the Gardens, listed as Grade II.
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A significant restoration addressed corrosion in the ironwork, floor structure replacement, new mechanical & electrical plant, ventilation and AV systems—all while preserving historic detailing.
Location & Practical Info
Address: St John’s Road, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 6BE.
The venue is centrally located in Buxton, with good transport links (rail/road) and ample parking in nearby car parks. The Gardens complex also houses cafés, an ice-cream parlour, restaurant & bar, art gallery and nearby amenities.
Itsy Bitsy - Fashion Show
For this event, we installed a 14-metre runway through the centre of the Octagon Hall, creating a clear focal point for the show. Moving lights were mounted on 3-metre polished aluminium truss uprights, positioned alongside each of the eight Victorian roof pillars to provide beam lighting across the space. Additional lighting was distributed throughout the venue to ensure consistent coverage for both the audience and the catwalk.
On stage, we supplied two 85-inch LED display screens for show content, along with three starcloth backdrops to frame the models’ entrances and support the visual themes of the event. The stage and runway were further highlighted using 16 Astera Titan LED pixel tubes, adding controlled motion and a clean, modern finish to the presentation.
For this Halloween themed night we used one of our set supplier’s fantastic set of animated scary mannequins. These provided much amusement and photo moments for the guests, some, were also dressed up in Halloween outfits.
Overall, the setup was designed to complement the building’s shape, while providing a clear, practical environment for the models and audience.
