The Assembly Hall Series
Across Britain, countless uprights were built not for delicate use in homes, but for real, hard work in demanding environments. They were supplied to schools, churches and community spaces where durability and performance mattered more than decoration, and where a piano needed to withstand harsh daily use without complaint.
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The Assembly Hall Series from Sykes & Sons returns these institutional uprights to service, carefully reconditioned and prepared for the environments they were originally made to serve.
Instruments Built for the Job
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In many churches and community spaces, the piano is used as a versatile musical centrepiece to accompany congregational singing, lead worship, support choirs, and provide music during weddings, funerals, and services. In schools, pianos serve as foundational tools for both general education and specialised musical training. They are used for everything from leading morning assemblies to teaching complex music theory and composition.
In these environments, they're working instruments, and they are expected to cope with the rigours of institutional use without any special treatment.​
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The Assembly Hall Series from Sykes & Sons deliberately responds to this reality. Rather than turning to digital substitutes or cheap alternatives that were never designed to work under such high demands, we return to the robust British institutional uprights that were specifically designed for this level of use and have a proven trackrecord in educational institutions, churches, and community spaces.
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Every piano in the Assembly Hall Series is fully reconditioned in our workshop to the same professional standards applied to all Sykes & Sons pianos. Structural integrity and safety features are restored, actions are fully serviced and regulated, and cabinetry is refinished to a smart, durable standard suitable for institutional settings.
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The intention is straightforward: to place real, dependable acoustic uprights back into halls and teaching spaces at a price point that many organisations can justify, without unnecessary compromise and without unnecessary expense.​​
What Defines an Assembly Hall Instrument?
These uprights were originally built for institutional use. Their cabinetry is substantial, their frames are strong, and their design is utility-focused. Many were supplied directly to local authorities and have a proven track record of reliable service.
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They are not decorative domestic pieces, but true workhorses, designed to withstand harsh daily use without complaint.
Features include:
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Double rubber castors with ball bearings for ease of movement
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Built-in toe protectors to avoid injury to the feet during moving
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Safety fallboards to avoid finger entrapment
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Robust keytops to withstand abuse
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Lockable key covers and doors
Who is the Assembly Hall Series for?
These instruments are particularly suited to:
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Primary and secondary schools
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Colleges
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Academy trusts
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Churches
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Chapels
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Community centres
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Rehearsal spaces
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Drama and music departments
They are ideal where:
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A piano must be moved within a hall
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Reliability is paramount
