Southport's Town Centre Councillors have called for the Council to step in quickly to take back full control of the Southport Theatre and Convention Centre.

Following the financial collapse of the operator, Liberal Democrat opposition leader on Sefton Council, Councillor John Pugh says: "Programmes and events need to be planned and booked years in advance - so any delay now could result in 2021 being just as bad as 2020.

"The consequences for a town, whose economy has been been dealt a body blow by COVID-19 and lockdown could be disastrous unless the council pick up the pieces now and intervene.

“I was always sceptical about the capacity of 'Bliss' to deliver on their promises, given their limited experience in this field. However, now that expectations are dashed, the best option would be for the council to set up their own company following the model of places like Harrogate."

"We need an immediate hands-on approach. Historically this was the role of the Council’s Director of Tourism, and there is currently no such person and not much of a council tourism strategy, but there are few other options."

"A long tendering process to find a new operator for the Theatre complex would be fatal and, in current circumstances, likely to only to attract speculators ready to take advantage of the Council's plight.

"I recognise that in the current situation the council doesn’t need any additional challenges, but this is an economic crisis and decisive action is needed."

His colleague, Councillor Tony Dawson says: "The timing of this further crisis for Southport is unwelcome, but cannot simply be avoided. Southport needs to come out of 'lockdown' having 'hit the boards' running on a strategy which has been properly thought through, discussed and supported by the people of the town.

"While we cannot run away from the reality of the central role in our future of a Council dominated by a very different town, the emotional commitment to Southport's future and much of the vital local knowledge about the town we love lies with people who live and work here."

"If we do not accept these unwanted challenges and take them on vigorously, together, for the good of the town as a whole and in a non-party-political way, then the town might as well be towed out into the middle of the Irish Sea. Such a dire future is not and could never be acceptable."

Originally Posted by roving-eye

"While we cannot run away from the reality of the central role in our future of a Council dominated by a very different town, the emotional commitment to Southport's future and much of the vital local knowledge about the town we love lies with people who live and work here."

.......

together, for the good of the town as a whole and in a non-party-political way, "

Cllr Dawson is incapable of doing anything in a non-party political way, probably his and his parties single biggest excuse for delivering nothing but bitterness and empty “calling for”. They must realise by banging on about the labour cabinet is why they haven’t done much over the years (including the 15 they had an MP in parliament) just affirms that a Lib Dem vote is a wasted vote.

Knock the whole thing down. It looks very tired inside, the seats are very worn, there's netting on the ceiling to stop bits of ceiling tile falling on the audience. It needs 10's of thousands of pounds spending on it, if not 100s.

Southport has needed a bigger and better theatre for decades - maybe now is the chance to get something better.

It's 37 years old and as far as I'm aware has had little in refurbishment.

Having used Google Earth it appears to me that you could fit a theatre the size of the Liverpool Empire in the space that the present theatre now occupies. A few minor road alterations to the rear for the access road to the hotel would be needed. The present car-park to the side of the sailing club/smallest pub in Britain could be turned into a multi-story car-park.

Get rid and give Southport a better theatre that can accommodate West End productions.

Originally Posted by libraryguy

It's 37 years old and as far as I'm aware has had little in refurbishment.

That would make it built in 1983.
It's older than that.

So there's the space to build a massive theatre.
Possibly as big as the Empire.
Do you think that if the Empire didn't exist someone would now be contemplating spending tens of millions building it?
Even in a city about five times bigger than Southport?

Sefton step in?????
How much we spent on
the market and failed miserably.
There is a list of serious failures in
the area.
Wait until the truth hits the fan
regards the strand.

Originally Posted by salus.populi

That would make it built in 1983.
It's older than that.

Opened in 1973 - so 47 years. Apologies.

Southport Theatre can never be successful because it is not big enough to host 'Names' and large Conferences won't come due to the lack of decent accommodation. Promoters / Agents of big name acts always have a clause in the contracts prohibiting the appearance of the act within a certain radius and timescale, this means if they are on in Liverpool, Blackpool or Preston and possibly Manchester they could not appear in Southport and wouldn't come to Southport when there bigger venues close by.

Its sad, however in the years I've been going saw around a handful of original good acts the rest Shite tribute bands.

The Atkinson has been the better venue for ages. Remember Roy Wood at the STCC saying the "Coldest venue" he had ever played in!!!

Sad, but if any rich Arabs think Southport is near London let them have a go!!