Cabinet to consider recommendations for Margate Theatre Royal restoration

Thanet District Council’s Cabinet is set to consider recommendations for the funding and future operation of the Margate Theatre Royal.The report, which will be discussed on Thursday 22 January 2026, outlines a clear path to completing the essential Phase One capital works and finding a long-term, independent operator to run the historic venue.

The report sets out a number of approvals needed to move the project forward:

• Securing the budget: Approving the reallocation of £1 million from a contingency fund to the Theatre Royal project, bringing the total dedicated regeneration budget to £6 million.
• Starting construction: Approving the process to procure contractor(s) for the Phase One capital works.
• Appointing an operator: Delegating authority to council officers to select and appoint an independent organisation to run and manage the Theatre Royal and 19 Hawley Square under a long-term lease agreement.

Cabinet is also asked to note the RIBA stage one masterplan and the selected Phase One scheme to reopen the theatre.

This ambitious Phase One scheme focuses on bringing the Theatre Royal back into full use. As a Grade II* listed building and a significant heritage asset that has been on the Theatres at Risk Register since 2018, its future hinges on this investment and a robust operational plan.

Key features of the proposed restoration include:

• Upgrades to the auditorium and front-of-house areas, improving seating, accessibility, and toilet facilities.
• Extensive modernisation of building services, including rewiring, a new heating and ventilation system, and fire safety upgrades.
• Construction of a new extension to provide accessible dressing rooms (equipped with a lift), a bar, and a stage door.
• The creation of a new public piazza by closing the road between the theatre and 19 Hawley Square, creating a safe, vibrant gathering space for audience members.

The report also highlights the shift in focus to securing an independent operator through a lease, rather than the preferred route of setting up a charitable trust. This follows unsuccessful applications for major external revenue funding. A lease agreement would make the project financially sustainable and more resilient for the long term.

Councillor Ruth Duckworth, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Property, said:
“If approved, this would be a pivotal and hugely positive step for Margate’s cultural heart. We are acutely aware of the Theatre Royal’s unique place in Margate’s history. The proposals demonstrate our determination to secure its future.

“We have listened to the overwhelming public support for this project, with over 90% of stakeholders calling for a fully operational theatre and more than 80% backing the vision. If approved, the recommendations in this report will be a significant step forward to reinstating Margate’s much loved theatre.

“A new operator would bring the essential expertise and stability needed to help remove the theatre from the Theatre’s Trust ‘At Risk’ register for good. This would also move us closer to restoring civic pride to the area and boosting the night-time economy.”

The full set of recommendations will be presented to the Cabinet at the meeting on Thursday 22 January.

The full report is available on thanet.gov.uk listed under agenda item 7.