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Spinnaker Tower Operator

Portsmouth City Council

This public procurement record has 6 releases in its history.

Award

16 Jul 2026 at 21:33

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
TenderUpdate

05 May 2026 at 21:58

UK4 - Tender Notice
TenderUpdate

20 Apr 2026 at 18:02

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

07 Apr 2026 at 18:44

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

31 Mar 2026 at 17:40

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Planning

13 Nov 2025 at 15:10

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Portsmouth City Council procured a long-term concession partnership to operate the Spinnaker Tower, a prominent public viewing tower on the waterfront at Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth, with views across the city, the Solent and the Isle of Wight. The primary function is visitor attraction operation, supported by customer services, tourism and visitor information, retail, food and beverage services, marketing and promotion, commercial property management, cleaning, facilities management, statutory compliance, maintenance and refurbishment coordination. The operator is responsible for maintaining the public visitor offer and operating the Tower in accordance with the Council’s requirements. The opportunity also covers development of activities, uses and events, ancillary commercial opportunities, capital investment proposals and partnership working around the landmark site.

The procurement is complete and was run as an open competitive flexible procedure for a concession contract. Two valid bids were received. Gunwharf Quays Limited was awarded the contract on 13 July 2026 for £106,000,000 gross. The contract period runs from 11 October 2026 to 10 October 2051. The evaluation combined quality, cost and price: quality included activities and events, resource and delivery, business plan, mobilisation, partnership working, marketing and customer experience, reporting, social value, health and safety, facilities management, maintenance and capital investment; cost covered the 25-year lease and revenue-share payment totals; and price covered the first three years’ fixed lease payments. The contract is intended to commence after mobilisation and follows an eight-working-day statutory standstill period.

This requirement indicates demand for operators able to run a regionally significant visitor or leisure attraction commercially, while taking substantive responsibility for sales, costs and profit or surplus generation. A credible future competitor would need current experience of an attraction with annual footfall of at least 50,000 and turnover of £1 million, plus evidence of day-to-day operations, facilities management, statutory compliance and maintenance. Relevant capability also includes planned preventative maintenance programmes, repair, refurbishment and replacement works, marketing and promotion, customer experience, business planning, reporting, information technology, health and safety, safeguarding and capital investment. Suppliers should be able to demonstrate this through one to three operational case studies, meet financial and insurance requirements, and maintain robust UK GDPR and environmental health arrangements.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Spinnaker Tower Operator

Notice Description

Portsmouth City Council - the 'Council - has sought tenders from suitably qualified and experienced operators for the operation of the Spinnaker Tower - the 'Tower' - on a long term mutually incentivised concession partnership basis. Following completion of the tender assessment process the Council has issued assessment summaries to the successful and unsuccessful suppliers as required under Section 50 of the Procurement Act 23 (the 'Act'). Issuing of this Award Notice will now instigate the statutory Standstill Period which will not be less than eight-working days in accordance with section 51 of the Act. The Council reserves the right to amend (extend) the Standstill Period if needed. If this right is exercised, the Contract Award Notice will be updated and affected suppliers will be notified accordingly. After the Standstill Period has expired, and provided no legal challenge has been made by the end of the Standstill Period, the Council intends to finalise terms and enter into contract with the Successful Supplier. Following execution of contract the Council will issue a further Contract Details Notice in accordance with Section 53 of the Act. The Spinnaker Tower is located on the waterfront within Gunwharf Quays shopping centre and is a prominent landmark offering views of the city, the Solent and the Isle of Wight. Under the new contract the primary function of the Tower must remain a public viewing tower, to be open in line with hours set out within the Council's specification. Following finalisation of terms and execution of contract the Successful Supplier will be required to seamlessly commence operations under a lease with associated concession arrangement from 11th October 2026 following expiry of the lease held with the current incumbent operator on 10th October 2026. The lease and associated concession contract will be let on a 25-year basis.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: The Council reserves the right to engage the next placed highest scoring Supplier (ranked 2nd) to deliver the Concession Contract in the event that any of the following events occur during the award, mobilisation and delivery of the services during the term of the contract: * The Council is unable to agree and execute terms of Concession Contract with the preferred Supplier identified through evaluation of the submitted tenders * The preferred Supplier identified through evaluation of the submitted tenders fails to mobilise and commence the services in line with the agreed programme, or is significantly delayed in meeting programme milestones and is highly likely to not commence services in line with the agreed programme * The Concession Contract with the preferred Supplier identified through evaluation of the submitted tenders is terminated due to: o Material breach. o Non-material persistent breach. o Failure to meet service levels and KPIs. o Not meeting Conditions of Participation - Exclusion grounds, insurance, financial standing, accreditations, etc. o Inability to agree price increases in line with terms. o Inability to agree price changes, Specification changes, event in the event of materialisation of identified known risks. The next placed supplier will only be engaged in accordance with PA 2023 and subject to the supplier evidencing ability to: * Meet all Conditions of Participation. * Deliver the requirements as set out in the Specification including for any updates made by the Council. * Honour the terms & conditions included within the original procurement. * Deliver the service delivery proposals included within their original tender submission as a minimum. * Honour the pricing elements included for within their original tender submission, subject to reasonable application of relevant CPI indices, as a minimum with a requirement to mitigate any increases where possible.

Planning Information

PME Documentation The following documents are available via the Council's e-sourcing solution In-Tend: • Spinnaker Tower Operator PME Brief (this document) • Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth - Teaser Brochure - November 2025 • For 1:1 meetings - o Expression of Interest Form o Conflict Assessment Form PME Key Agenda Points The Council is keen to discuss and seek views from occupiers on the following broad points through the 1-1 meetings. The list of items is non-exhaustive and will be developed within the 1-1 meetings through open collaborative dialogue. The Council is also likely to adapt the discussion points following review of operational experience & business activity information included within submitted EOIs to ensure that the points raised are relevant and make the best use of time for all parties. Occupiers are encouraged to put forward their own items for discussion at the meeting, ideally providing this in advance either in their expression of interest form or subsequently via In-tend correspondence in advance of the 1-1 meeting. • Relevant experience, capacity & interest • Options for development of the visitor offer, site uses & continuing position as a key landmark of the wider Solent region • Promotion & marketing • Options for operating models, roles & responsibilities, legal structures & partnership working • Commercial options, investment, funding, return & risk • Competitive bidding options, process & programme 1-1 Slots, Booking Requirements & Briefing Pack The Council is inviting suitably qualified & experienced operators to take part in exploratory 1-1 on-line Teams meetings which will take place between 24th-28th November 2025. The Council has 10 1-hour slots available. The 1-1 slots available are set out below and will be allocated on a first come first served basis to operators. • Meeting slot 1 - Monday 24th November 9.30 - 10.30 • Meeting slot 2 - Monday 24th November 11.00 - 12.00 • Meeting slot 3 - Monday 24th November 13.30 - 14.30 • Meeting slot 4 - Monday 24th November 15.00 - 16.00 • Meeting slot 5 - Tuesday 25th November 14.00 - 15.00 • Meeting slot 6 - Wednesday 26th November 9.30 - 10.30 • Meeting slot 7 - Wednesday 26th November 11.00 - 12.00 • Meeting slot 8 - Thursday 27th November 15.00 - 16.00 • Meeting slot 9 - Friday 28th November 9.30 - 10.30 • Meeting slot 10 - Friday 28th November 11.00 - 12.00 Interested occupiers are required to complete the Expression of Interest (EOI) and Conflict of Interest (COI) forms accessible via the council's e-sourcing system In-tend in order to book a 1-1 slot. The link to the e-tendering system can be found here - https://in-tendhost.co.uk/portsmouthcc/aspx/home The Expression of Interest and Conflict Assessment Form documents should be submitted via In-tend by no later than Friday 21st November 17:00. However, as access to 1-1 slots is limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis interested occupiers are encouraged to submit applications asap in advance of the deadline to help ensure that their 1-1 time slot preferences can be accommodated. Operators are required to state which meeting slots they are able to attend and state ranked order of preference for the dates and times available within their completed EOI form. Operators will be allocated their preferred slots wherever possible, but priority will be given on a first come first served basis. If none of the slots which are available can be accommodated by an Operator the Council may be able to make further slots available, however due to time and resource pressures this cannot be guaranteed. In the unlikely event that it is not possible to organise a 1-1 meeting, affected occupiers will be given the opportunity to provide written feedback to ensure that no interested parties are excluded from inputting into this PME exercise. The Council will confirm which slot has been allocated within a target lead in of 3 working days before 1-1 meeting via In-tend correspondence, dependent upon whether operators submit expressions of interest in advance of the deadline. Following confirmation by both parties the Council will issue a Teams link to the Organisation's attendees / delegates at least 1 working day before the 1-1 meeting. Occupiers will only be invited to attend a 1-1 meeting and receive the further documentation where: 1) no conflicts are declared which cannot be mitigated; 2) where the EOI form has been fully completed - including for slot preferences, business & contact information and self-certification of meeting all stated minimum business activity & experience requirements stated within the EOI form and later in this document. Should Operators have any questions in respect of the participation requirements, process or any other matters these must be addressed to the Council via it's e-sourcing system In-tend using the correspondence function. Operators should note that there is no obligation to take part in this preliminary market engagement exercise and that if they do not take part, it will not preclude them from any subsequent related competitive bidding processes. Similarly, engaging Operators will not receive preferential treatment in any competitive bidding process. Expression of Interest As part of their completed Expression of Interest form operators are to provide case study details of one to three relevant sites. Operators are encouraged to provide 3 relevant case studies, if possible, but can use just 1 case study as long as this case study meets all of the essential experience & business activity requirements set out below. Conversely providers may include for 2-3 contract case studies which individually do not meet all of the essential requirements but collectively address all of the requirements. Ideally case study examples put forward should relate to operational sites but planned or in-development sites can also be proposed on the condition that the operator can demonstrate that they have secured future operations. Similarly, case study examples should ideally also relate to sites that the operator is involved in directly delivering, however operators may also put forward sites that they are not operating on the condition that they can demonstrate that they now employ staff who in their previous employment had a key role in managing operational delivery at the site. The essential experience / business activity requirements that Operators will need to demonstrate within their expression of interest applications and be booked onto a 1-1 meeting are as follows: • Operation of a regionally significant visitor / leisure attraction • Operator day to day site operations, FM & maintenance responsibilities • Operator customer experience responsibilities • Operator budget formulation & management responsibilities • Operator site 'offer' development, marketing & promotion activities • Operator sales & demand risk As set out in the EOI form, case study information can be provided via links to relevant web pages or pre-existing material rather than producing necessarily producing bespoke new material for this PME exercise. Where minimal information is provided and the application is purely on a self-certification basis, the Council may request further information prior to confirming and / or conducting the 1-1 session.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05e0a1
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/067477-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

50 - Repair and maintenance services

51 - Installation services (except software)

55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services

63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services

70 - Real estate services

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

98 - Other community, social and personal services

CPV Codes

45212170 - Entertainment building construction work

45212310 - Construction work for buildings relating to exhibitions

45212350 - Buildings of particular historical or architectural interest

45212421 - Restaurant construction work

45212423 - Cafeteria construction work

45212500 - Kitchen or restaurant conversion

45213112 - Shop units construction work

45262700 - Building alteration work

45330000 - Plumbing and sanitary works

45350000 - Mechanical installations

45420000 - Joinery and carpentry installation work

45432100 - Floor laying and covering work

45442110 - Painting work of buildings

45442121 - Painting work of structures

45442180 - Repainting work

45442300 - Surface-protection work

45443000 - Facade work

45451000 - Decoration work

45452000 - Exterior cleaning work for buildings

45453100 - Refurbishment work

50750000 - Lift-maintenance services

50850000 - Repair and maintenance services of furniture

50882000 - Repair and maintenance services of restaurant equipment

51100000 - Installation services of electrical and mechanical equipment

55300000 - Restaurant and food-serving services

55400000 - Beverage-serving services

55900000 - Retail trade services

63513000 - Tourist information services

63514000 - Tourist guide services

70332200 - Commercial property management services

79340000 - Advertising and marketing services

90911200 - Building-cleaning services

90911300 - Window-cleaning services

92000000 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

98350000 - Civic-amenity services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£168,161,103 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
£168,161,103 £100M-£1B
Awards Value
£106,000,000 £100M-£1B
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
5 Jun 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
7 Apr 2026Expired
Award Date
13 Jul 20262 months ago
Contract Period
11 Oct 2026 - 11 Oct 2051 Over 5 years
Recurrence
2050-10-10

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Portsmouth City Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
PORTSMOUTH
Postcode
PO1 2AL
Postcode Area
Portsmouth
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ31 Portsmouth
Delivery Location
TLJ31 Portsmouth
Local Authority
Portsmouth
Electoral Ward
Charles Dickens
Westminster Constituency
Portsmouth South

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

GUNWHARF QUAYS LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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