24/04/2026
An iconic red phone box in the heart of Guildford is getting a new purpose ā and work has now begun.
A quick progress update on the red phone box project, now weāre properly on site.
After a few frustrating weeks of stopāstart (planning permission granted, withdrawn, then granted againā¦), refurbishment is finally underway and work has begun in earnest.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. Itās messy, handsāon, 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.
Itās 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, lifeāsaving equipment and should not be used without expert direction. Clear instructions and signage will be in place to ensure itās used safely and appropriately when itās 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 ā one thatās entirely focused on keeping people safe.
Once complete, it will become what we believe is the UKās first Emergency MicroāHub 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 ā and ultimately save lives.
Weād also like to ask the community to bear with us while the refurbishment is underway. For a short period weāve had to temporarily block one of the cycle racks immediately next to the box to carry out the work safely ā although there are still two others available nearby. We completely understand how busy the town centre is and appreciate everyoneās patience while we get this right.
Weāre 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, weāve always believed businesses should give back to the places that support them. This isnāt just about restoring a piece of history ā itās about creating something practical, permanent and there for everyone in Guildford, 24/7.
More updates soon, but itās brilliant to finally see real progress happening on the ground.