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Westerleigh Group has announced it will close Wessex Vale Crematorium on Saturday 16 May to install technology designed to provide immersive themed experiences for funeral services.
The site will undergo a refurbishment involving the installation of automatic blinds, new lighting, and a digital canvas before reopening on Tuesday 2 June.
The project, which is part of a national rollout by Westerleigh Group, will introduce external welcome screens that will display names and images of the deceased, while the chapel interior will feature projected themes and coordinated soundscapes.
The technology was first launched at Gedling Crematorium in Nottinghamshire in 2024 and has since been introduced at five other locations.
Sarah Barrett, manager of Wessex Vale Crematorium, said: “The technology enables families to personalise a funeral to an unprecedented level and create an atmosphere that is truly authentic to the person it remembers.
“There is such a wide choice of canvases – some themes are scenic or represent seasons, others reflect specific interests and passions, all designed to curate a uniquely personal funeral service.”
She added: “Families who have hosted their loved one’s service in one of the five existing SuperVenues across the country often say it brought a deeply personal touch to the funeral. We are looking forward to making our funerals here more memorable – and special – than ever before.”
