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Former Odeon £8.3m restoration plans progress

James McCarthySouth East
Ashford Borough Council An artist's impression of how an art-deco style cinema building could look from the outside. It is a brick building with white stone art deco features and outside there are people on the pavement in front of red-framed doors and windows.Ashford Borough Council
There are plans for a new arts, culture and community centre

Proposals to bring a disused former Odeon cinema back to life are set to take their next steps to becoming reality.

The plans to turn the landmark building in Ashford, Kent, into a new arts, culture and community centre will go before the borough council's cabinet on 8 October.

The cabinet will be asked to support the £8.3m project's next phase, which will include setting out a detailed design, procuring contractors and finding a venue operator.

This would be subject to formal approval at a full council meeting on 15 October.

Since March asbestos has been removed, designs developed and improvements made to backstage facilities and to the building's High Street entrance, according to the council.

Plans for the venue include a theatre for up to 262 people, a gallery, community workshop or meeting space, a foyer with cafe, bar and workspace as well as spaces for arts, wellbeing, education, the community and commercial hire.

The council said the budget had increased from £7.5m as the design was refined.

Ashford Borough Council An artist's impression showing a crowd of people facing the stage in a theatre. There is a person on the stage standing in front of a microphone and the theatre has upper and lower seating sections.Ashford Borough Council
The theatre would have a capacity of up to 262

The updated plans, it added, included retaining the building's Art Deco frontage on High Street.

Cabinet member for commercial property and investment Simon Betty said: "The revised investment reflects a better, more practical venue designed for long-term success."

It is hoped the scheme will be finished and ready to open by summer 2028.

Ashford Borough Council leader, Noel Ovenden, said: "This is a major opportunity to restore one of Ashford's best-known buildings and create a cultural venue the town can be proud of."

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