A HOME for the performing arts in Southampton has been dubbed best regional theatre in the UK.

The Nuffield Theatre is a home for contemporary arts and has now been give the accolade of Best Regional Theatre 2015.

Hundreds of theatres across the country were in the running for this award from theatre magazine The Stage but the city venue beat them to the top spot.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary Nuffield director Sam Hodges says this is the perfect way to catapult Southampton into the limelight this year.

He said: “We have had a lot of adventures this year, taking risks and being ambitious about improving the theatre, which I think the judges recognised.

"To receive this award is a great way of acknowledging what we have done and shows that Southampton is a serious contender in the theatre world.

“As a theatre we are all about production which is important for our city.

"Historically Southampton is known as a manufacturing town, we are known for making things and we work to do that in the Nuffield.”

Judges included the magazine’s editor, Alistair Smith, and fellow theatre experts who applauded the Nuffield’s work last year creating a pop-up stage where they performed The Saints, a play inspired by Southampton Football Club.

Alistair Smith said: “Any of our shortlisted organisations would have made worthy winners but the panels’ choice was the best of the best and represented another superlative 12 months for theatre created in the UK.”

Sam added: “I think we’re all feeling very good about the award and the year ahead.

"There are a lot of exciting things coming for theatre in Southampton and this will really help to put us on the map.”