Commercial opportunity at Fleetwood’s Marine Hall

Marine Hall, Fleetwood

Wyre Council is looking to build on improvements already made to Marine Hall in recent years, and on the 28th November launched a soft market test to determine if there is a commercial partner who can help to maximise the potential of the venue and secure future investment.

Expressions of interest from appropriately qualified partners are being sought, which will allow interested parties to outline their views and suggest options for the future development of the venue, with no commitment to or from the council.

The Marine Hall was opened in 1935 and has been the premier entertainment venue for Wyre ever since. The venue and surrounding grounds have received significant investment in recent years to rejuvenate the gardens, provide recreational facilities, beach huts and children’s play areas and to restore the theatre’s original stained glass dome. Its seafront location, art deco styling and free parking make it an attractive destination for hirers and visitors and more recently it has grown in popularity as a venue for weddings.

Councillor Lynne Bowen, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Health and Community Engagement at Wyre Council explained ‘In recent years we have been working hard to make improvements to Marine Hall and our aspiration is for an innovative and economically viable entertainment hub for the enjoyment of both residents and visitors to Fleetwood. We are exploring our options when it comes to the future development of this much loved venue. We are committed to seeking a way forward to maximise this unique asset and further enhance Fleetwood’s offer as a visitor destination. The process is not a formal procurement one at this stage. It is intended to enable the council to consider options for the best way forward. In the meantime we will continue to provide an excellent service to everyone using the venue and have outlined that any expressions of interest should maintain and enhance the existing uses of the venue.

Lynee concluded ‘We are committed to Marine Hall as an important venue for events in the town and look forward to progressing this exciting opportunity to attract further investment.’

The closing date for expressions of interest is 12pm on 1 March 2019. Further information can be found at www.wyre.gov.uk where interested parties can also complete an expression of interest questionnaire. To find out more about Marine Hall visit www.marinehall.co.uk.