Iconic Theatre Building To Be Restored
Sibbett Gregory have recently been involved in the sale of an iconic building in Bournemouth Town Centre. The former Palace Court Theatre, the last surviving 1930’s art deco theatre in Bournemouth has recently been sold to the Arts University Bournemouth (AUB).
The property is located on Hinton Road and comprises a multi floor theatre building extending to approximately 14,669 sq ft. The building was converted to a place of worship in the late 1980’s but retained many of its original features. Sibbett Gregory were instructed to market the property on behalf of the previous owners – The Trustees of the Wessex Christian Centre.
Alastair Knott, Head of Agency at Sibbett Gregory commented “Despite the marketing taking place throughout the first lockdown of 2020, we received a significant amount of interest in the building, which is a totally unique property in Bournemouth. We subsequently received a significant number of bids with interested parties considering the building for a number of alternative uses as well as comprehensive redevelopment. We are delighted that the property will be retained by AUB and restored to its former glory, as a teaching space and fully functioning performance venue; complete with a 400-seat auditorium, interval bar, and rehearsal space.”
Speaking about the new performance venue, AUB Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Gough said: “AUB’s acquisition of Palace Court Theatre firmly brings to life our ambitions to invest in the local area, particularly through key assets that contribute to business creativity, arts provision and skills development.
“AUB’s Palace Court Theatre project further demonstrates the university’s ongoing efforts to help protect, preserve and enhance the UK’s highly respected arts and culture industry, which brings more than £10billion to the UK economy per year, and provides employment and opportunity for more than 220,000 world-class creative minds of the future, from actors to set designers, filmmakers to costume makers.”
