The Customs House

The building comprises two auditoria - a theatre of 441 seats and a 145 seat studio; a gallery; a restaurant; a bar and box-office and a community room that holds 100 people.

The offices, rehearsal room and Community Room are located in refurbished warehouses running alongside the main building (Daltons Lane). Car parking is situated adjacent to the buildings.

When the Daltons Lane warehouses were refurbished just a few years ago the builder found old mortuary slabs in Daltons 5 (now a rehearsal studio). With further research it was discovered that the building used to be a morgue. The flats in front of this building were once a police station and it was concluded that any bodies found in the river in Mill Dam during that time were then transported into the morgue directly behind the station.

The current Executive Director of the Customs House is Ray Spencer who has been in the position for seven years.

The Immediate Location

The Customs House is located within the conservation area of Mill Dam in the town of South Shields. Situated on the south bank of the River Tyne adjacent to the ferry landing, it has impressive views, both across and up and down the river. Within walking distance of the town centre, it has access to good public transport facilities including buses, ferries and the metro underground train service.

The area immediately surrounding The Customs House comprises a number of public houses along the approach to Mill Dam and several blocks of low-rise flats behind. On the up-river side is a working ship repair and fit-out yard owned by Tyne Dock Engineering.

Ownership and Management

The Customs House was acquired by the Tyne and Wear Development Corporation as part of the redevelopment plans, along with the Daltons Lane warehouses. Both are leased to The Customs House Trust on a 99 year lease with a peppercorn rent. With the demise of the Development Corporation, the freehold of both buildings transferred to South Tyneside MBC, along with the car park.

The Customs House is managed by The Customs House Trust, a company limited by guarantee with charitable status. The founding members of the Trust were South Tyneside MBC, Tyne and Wear Development Corporation and Northern Arts and each had the right to nominate two members to the Board. Other Board members represent a wide variety of experience and expertise, including a solicitor, accountant, teacher and a retired quantity surveyor.

Funding and Local Plans

Since it opened, The Customs House has been revenue-funded by South Tyneside MBC, Northern Arts and the Tyne and Wear Development Corporation. With the demise of the Development Corporation, the local authority increased its revenue contribution and, more recently, both funding partners have increased their funding to secure the long term future of the venue.

The Customs House is the only non-amateur theatre in the borough, the local arts development agency, the largest Gallery and, until recently, the only cinema. In summary The Customs House is the focus for artistic and cultural activities in South Tyneside.

Find Your Talent Scheme

In 2008 it was announced that The Customs House would be one of ten venues across the country that would become part of Gordon Brown's new initiative Find Your Talent. In turn the venue will receive £2.5million over the next three years to help deliver five hours of culture to children each week.

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