The Box celebrates record-breaking year as visitor numbers continue to rise

25th February 2026

One month after its landmark Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy exhibition launched, The Box has officially recorded its busiest year since it opened in 2020.

The award-winning venue has welcomed 278,820 visits so far in 2025-26, surpassing its previous annual record of 272,266 and with six weeks still to go until the end of the current financial year.

The milestone reflects the huge popularity of its current exhibitions and family-friendly events, with February proving particularly strong. The Box experienced its five busiest days on record last week, peaking on Thursday 19 February with 3,685 visits, and its busiest-ever week with 20,233 visits – well above the previous weekly high of 15,725.

February half term (14-22 February) saw 26,289 visits, more than double last year’s total for the same period. The uplift was also reflected in other areas, with retail up by 275% and catering up by 60% compared with February half term 2025.

Councillor Jemima Laing, Deputy Leader of Plymouth City Council, said: “These figures are amazing to see and very well deserved too. I’m incredibly proud of The Box, the team of staff and volunteers who make it the place it is, and the calibre of what happens there. The current exhibitions are world-class, and I urge anyone who hasn’t yet visited to make sure they do – even if it’s just to have a coffee in its fabulous café!”

The Box is now approaching its next ambitious target of 300,000 visits by 31 March 2026 while Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy continues until 31 May and the recently opened Journeys with Mai, which features an astonishing portrait of the first Polynesian to visit Britain by Plympton-born Sir Joshua Reynolds, runs until 14 June. Free tickets can be booked online. A packed programme of events including curator tours, comedy tours, silent discos and a Drag Bingo night are also set to take place this spring.

More information is available from www.theboxplymouth.com