Popular English seaside town reveals plans for £11million attraction with rooftop bar by the beach

AN ABANDONED venue in Margate is getting a huge upgrade – and will become a sought after attraction.

The Winter Gardens theatre on the seafront has been closed for two and a half years, but new plans reveal it's set to reopen next year with a brand new look.

For almost three years the building in Cliftonville has been standing empty, but new funding means it could open in 18 months.

Thanet District Council has awarded Westwood One Theatre a contract for their plans to transform the venue.

It is said these will cost between £8 and £11million.

Despite its rich music history, the plans reveal they won't be keeping Winter Gardens as a performance venue.

Instead, the Winter Gardens will be transformed into a drama school, day nursery and education centre with a new accessible entrance.

There will also be a new rooftop bar and restaurant, as well as four new bars throughout the building.

Westwood One Theatre company is the firm that also runs Granville Theatre in Ramsgate.

It hopes to reopen late 2026, if given the full go-ahead.

Thanet District Council's cabinet report explained: “Westwood One Theatre estimated the time line for the complete refurbishment and reopening to be around two years from the point of agreeing a lease and grant agreement.

“By prioritising works to the main hall and Queen’s Hall these could be open in around 15 – 18 months, from the point of agreeing the lease.”;

The music venue first opened in 1911 and is a rich part of Margate's history.

Over the years it has hosted acts like The Beatles and comedy duo, Laurel and Hardy.

In more recent years bands Blur and Oasis performed there too.

It was a venue for music and theatre until 2022 when former management, Your Leisure handed back its lease following financial losses.

Due to the cost of updating the venue, it was consequently closed.

Locals have previously expressed their hope that the building would reopen.

One person even said on Tripadvisor that the Winter Gardens “used to be the Jewel in Margate's crown.”

One of the reasons Margate is so popular with visitors is its affordability, as Sun Travel discovered.

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