24/04/2026
An iconic red phone box in the heart of Guildford is getting a new purpose – and work has now begun.
A quick progress update on the red phone box project, now we’re properly on site.
After a few frustrating weeks of stop‑start (planning permission granted, withdrawn, then granted again…), refurbishment is finally underway and work has begun in earnest.
The box has now been fully stripped back, protected, and prepped. You can see just how much work is going into restoring it properly from the inside out. It’s messy, hands‑on, and exactly how it should be at this stage. one of my son's Miki has put in over 100 hours of work free of charge so far and we are only at the half way stage. His way of giving back to the community.
It’s also important to say that while this equipment is publicly accessible, it is only intended to be used by the emergency services or by members of the public when instructed or guided by emergency services. This is specialist, life‑saving equipment and should not be used without expert direction. Clear instructions and signage will be in place to ensure it’s used safely and appropriately when it’s genuinely needed.
This K6 phone box has been part of everyday life in Guildford for decades. Our aim is to give it a new and very practical purpose — one that’s entirely focused on keeping people safe.
Once complete, it will become what we believe is the UK’s first Emergency Micro‑Hub inside a traditional red phone box, providing free, public access to:
A defibrillator
A bleed kit
A first aid kit
A direct 999 emergency button
Emergency oxygen
In an emergency, seconds really do matter. Having this equipment permanently available in the town centre could make a genuine difference — and ultimately save lives.
We’d also like to ask the community to bear with us while the refurbishment is underway. For a short period we’ve had to temporarily block one of the cycle racks immediately next to the box to carry out the work safely — although there are still two others available nearby. We completely understand how busy the town centre is and appreciate everyone’s patience while we get this right.
We’re also grateful to BT for committing to supply free electricity to the box for the next 7 years. Projects like this only happen when organisations and people work together for the good of the community.
At Unigold, we’ve always believed businesses should give back to the places that support them. This isn’t just about restoring a piece of history — it’s about creating something practical, permanent and there for everyone in Guildford, 24/7.
More updates soon, but it’s brilliant to finally see real progress happening on the ground.
