Westerleigh Group to create nine funeral SuperVenues in 2026
Westerleigh Group has announced plans to open nine more funeral SuperVenues in 2026 which offer the bereaved the opportunity to personalise final farewells to unprecedented levels.
Throughout the year, seven of Westerleigh’s existing crematoria will close for a short period while state-of-the-art SuperVenue technology is installed.
Meanwhile, two brand-new crematoria, both of which are currently being built, one in the North East and one in Yorkshire and are due to open before the end of the year, will have the SuperVenue equipment fitted during construction.
SuperVenue experiences mean that families arriving for their loved one’s funeral will be greeted by a new external welcome screen, displaying a treasured image of the loved one being remembered.
Inside the chapel, mourners will find themselves surrounded by a beautifully-curated immersive theme as selected by the closest family, projected onto the entire front wall of the chapel - canvas - and accompanied by harmoniously co-ordinated soundscapes, music and lighting.
Designs for the welcome screen and a themed tribute to match the chosen canvas theme inside will be available, too.
These enhanced features create deeply personal, immersive farewell experiences that truly bring families together and emphasise the importance of saying goodbye. Delivered in close collaboration with local funeral directors, each service is provided with care at the heart of the community.
Westerleigh Group is the UK’s largest independent owner and operator of crematoria and cemeteries, with 42 sites in England, Scotland and Wales, trusted by over 76,000 families each year to deliver funerals for their loved ones.
It is committed to upholding the highest standards for the families it serves, working closely with industry partners, delivering exceptional care, peace of mind and the most uniquely personal farewell options to every family.
It opened the world’s first SuperVenue in 2024 at its Gedling Crematorium in Nottinghamshire, which proved so popular that the group decided to invest in making the SuperVenue experience available at more of its crematoria.
Throughout 2025, it introduced the SuperVenue concept to its crematoria in Basildon, East Lothian, Vale Royal and Sedgemoor.
In 2026, Langstone Vale, Woollensbrook, Wessex Vale, Forest Park, Babworth, North Wiltshire and West Berkshire crematoria will all have the innovative technology installed while its two brand new developments will have it fitted during their construction, which is now under way ahead of their planned opening in November and December.
Debbie Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Westerleigh Group, said: “We were delighted with the positive feedback we have received to our SuperVenues and quickly knew we had to make them more widely available.
“Families who have experienced our SuperVenues are consistently giving us the feedback that we have exceeded their expectaions and they felt they had been able to give their loved one a farewell that was even more special than they ever imagined.
“At Westerleigh Group, we are passionate about providing families we support with exceptional care and service of the very highest standards.
“Feedback from the families that we’ve served gives us a tremendous sense of pride in our commitment to the bereaved and in the crematoria we operate.
“SuperVenues are exceptional and offer innovative, immersive, experiences, with themes and elements which truly reflect the life and interests of the individual whose life is being celebrated, and enable a funeral to be personalised to unprecedented levels.
“We believe they will encourage more families to recognise the emotional and comforting benefits of having an attended service as a final farewell, especially now that they are able to be so specifically personal.
“This year, nine further SuperVenues will be added to our our existing five, and we are looking forward to bringing this option to an increasing number of bereaved families beyond 2026.”
For more information about Westerleigh Group and the exceptional care and services it offers, visit www.westerleighgroup.co.uk
