The Lysaght Institute, a historic Newport venue, could close at the end of 2026 after its operator decided to cease all operations at the site. The operator, now known as Codi Group, confirmed it will stop running events at the landmark Corporation Road building from December 31.
All 2027 bookings, including weddings, have been cancelled and staff have been made redundant. A spokesperson for the group said they are supporting affected customers with finding other arrangements and helping staff find work.
Operator's statement and next steps
A Codi Group spokesperson said: "Lysaght Institute has been an important part of the Newport community for generations and we recognise the affection many people have for the building and the memories created there."
"Codi Group will stop operating events at Lysaght from December 31, 2026. The creche will continue. While we will no longer operate it as an events venue, our intention, if possible, is to seek a new owner or operator who continues to run the venue in a way that benefits the local community."
They added: "We will work with interested stakeholders and members of the community that have expressed an interest in exploring if they could operate it."
"All events taking place during 2026 will go ahead as planned and customers have been contacted and updated. We have also spoken personally with all customers whose 2027 bookings are affected and are supporting them with alternative arrangements wherever possible."
"We are incredibly proud of the Lysaght team and the relationships they have built with customers and the community. We are working individually with affected colleagues and are anticipating finding alternative opportunities for them."
History of the Lysaght Institute
The building on Corporation Road was opened in 1928 as a social and recreational centre for workers at the nearby Orb Works steelworks. Named after William Royse Lysaght, the company's long-serving chairman, the Institute included a ballroom, billiard room, reading room, recreation hall, bar and outdoor sporting facilities. Its large ballroom became a popular venue for dances, meetings and community events.
Many Newport locals will have heard stories of their grandparents going dancing there. In a world before social media it was how a lot of Newportonians met.
The Orb Works was one of Newport's major employers, reaching a workforce of around 3,500 at its peak. The Institute consequently became an important part of life for generations of steelworkers and their families.
After decades of use, the Institute closed in 2001 and subsequently fell into disrepair. Its future was uncertain until Linc Cymru acquired the building in 2008. A major £3 million restoration followed, preserving many of the building's historic features including its domed ballroom ceiling, original staircase, plasterwork and elements of its Canadian maple dance floor.
The Institute reopened in 2012 and has since operated as a community space and events venue. Its survival has preserved an important part of Newport's industrial heritage and a building that played a central role in the social life of generations of local people.
