The Spring Arts and Heritage Centre

About the museum

The Spring occupies the former Havant Town Hall, a Gothic Revival building in red brick that opened in January 1870. Local businessmen led by the lord of the manor raised the money for a hall for public events, and the building later served as the meeting place of Havant Urban District Council. When the council moved out in 1977 it reopened in 1978 as an arts centre with a small theatre.

Today the centre combines a theatre of around 145 seats, workshop spaces, a cafe and bar and a museum. The Havant Museum shows the history of the borough and its people, with a collection that is displayed through a partnership with the Hampshire Cultural Trust. The museum is an Arts Council England accredited museum.

Visitors can see a re-created 1950s kitchen with voices from the local Kenwood community, displays on the former Hayling Billy railway line with an interactive model, facts about local brands such as Scalextric, Tampax and Kenwood, and three hand-painted Royal Doulton tile panels that once decorated the children's ward of the Havant War Memorial Hospital. A free research room offers local records for family and local history research.

Highlights

• Re-created 1950s kitchen with voices of the local Kenwood community
• Hayling Billy railway displays with an interactive model
• Local brands including Scalextric, Tampax and Kenwood
• Hand-painted Royal Doulton tile panels from the Havant War Memorial Hospital
• Free research room for family and local history

Permanent exhibition

• Havant Museum – Local history of Havant borough, with a 1950s kitchen, the Hayling Billy railway, local brands and Royal Doulton hospital tiles.

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry to the museum and the research room is free. Theatre performances and workshops are ticketed separately. Family Museum Activity Trail books cost £2.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: not available
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Most of the building is accessible to wheelchair users, with stair lifts to the lower and upper rooms and the Mezzanine Gallery; the Duty Manager operates the lifts. An adapted toilet with baby-change facilities is available. An induction loop is installed in the theatre. Registered assistance dogs are accommodated. The Town End House pay and display car park next to the building has no accessible spaces and is down a slope; East Pallant car park or the Bear Hotel car park have wider disabled bays and are less than five minutes away. Essential companions get free tickets for performances.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

A Family Museum Activity Trail is available from the Box Office (activity books £2). A free children's play area next to the cafe has a mini library, toy tools and a play cafe. The cafe offers children's lunchboxes, ice cream and milkshakes, and an adapted toilet has baby-change facilities.

Getting there & parking

The Spring is a five-minute drive from the A27: leave at the B2149 Park Road South junction or the A259 Emsworth exit.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop

Award-winning cafe serving light lunches and homemade cakes, hot food until 14:30; a bar opens an hour before evening shows. The shop sells gifts and cards by local artists.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 222 guests.

The theatre, meeting rooms, the museum, the foyer cafe bar and the research room can be hired. The theatre holds up to 222 in a seated and standing layout, and hirers have wifi throughout the building.

Plan your visit