Future of Judi Dench-backed theatre safe - council

A buyer has been found for a theatre hall despite its failure to reach its asking price at auction, Kent County Council has said.

Broadstairs Memorial Hall was listed with a £350,000 guide price but received a single bid, £45,000 below its asking price.

Sarah Thorne Theatre has a five-year peppercorn lease at the hall and Dame Judi Dench, patron of the company, warned a sale would put the future of the theatre in jeopardy.

The local authority said it understood its future had been "secured" but could not identify the purchaser as "while contracts have now been exchanged, the sale has not yet completed".

Council deputy leader Brian Collins said: "This is good news for the residents of Broadstairs, and I hope that the new owner will now be able to ensure that this facility can thrive."

The council said "no viable proposals" from alternative community operators were submitted prior to the auction.

"The property had to be listed for sale in line with council obligations given the challenging financial circumstances", it added.

After the property failed to sell at auction, East Thanet MP Polly Billington said there was "an opportunity for Kent County Council to go back to the drawing board and rethink this ill-judged decision".

Sarah Thorne Theatre founder and director Michael Wheatley-Ward previously said: "My preferred option has always been to move the theatre to a charitable trust, leaving the Sarah Thorne Theatre company to operate the site."

The theatre company has been approached for comment.

In addition to Dame Judi, the theatre company lists Julian Fellowes, Gyles Brandreth and Sir David Suchet as patrons.

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