New owners have expressed their joy at buying an Art Deco theatre and have pledged to restore it to its former glory.
Selsey Pavilion in High Street, Selsey, near Bognor, has been bought by the Selsey Pavilion Trust (SPT).
The building closed as a theatre 50 years ago and, apart from a coffee shop that was added by the previous owners in 2015, remains as it was in the 1930s.
It was designed by London architect Harold Arthur Woodington and built in 1913 and is a rare and original theatre, cinema and live entertainment venue – one of just a handful remaining from the period.
Now it has been bought, the new owners are planning to revive and reopen it after decades.
Christian Skelton, chairman of SPT said: “This is the first step in the restoration and revival of Selsey’s remarkable Art Deco landmark.
“We have long dreamt about bringing live entertainment, cinema and local heritage together in Selsey. Now that we have the keys, that dream is becoming a reality.
“We have a long way to go, but owning the pavilion brings us closer to making it the beating heart of Selsey’s High Street again.”
The trust bought the building with the help of The National Lottery Heritage, Selsey Town Council and Chichester District Council among others.
Chaplin’s Coffee House will remain open while refurbishment works take place.
The trust will make a range of improvements inside including modernising the toilets.
“The purchase has been seven years in the making,” said Keith Batchelor, vice chairman of the SPT.
“We are eager to continue working hand in hand with the community as we embark on the crucial restoration phase.”
In 2022, the trust appointed architects to help develop plans for the building’s long-term restoration.
While this work is ongoing, the trust has secured funding for essential repairs and maintenance to ensure the building is safe, secure, and weatherproof.
Mr Skelton said: “But for now, let’s celebrate the bright future of the Selsey Pavilion.”
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