Planning

Refurbishment and Restoration of the Theatre Royal Margate

THANET DISTRICT COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

30 Mar 2026 at 10:13

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Thanet District Council has announced a planned procurement for the refurbishment and restoration of the Theatre Royal Margate, located in Margate, United Kingdom. This procurement falls under the construction industry category, specifically focusing on leisure, entertainment, and cultural building work. Currently in the planning stage, the procurement process is set to advance with an open procedure. Interested parties should note key dates: the RIBA Stage 4 design is expected to be completed and the tender released in early June 2026, with tenders due in late July 2026, and contract awarding anticipated for September 2026. The project's completion is targeted for September 2027, aiming for the theatre reopening in time for the 2027 pantomime season.

This tender presents a significant opportunity for businesses experienced in heritage and theatre refurbishment to engage in a high-profile project. The refurbishment, estimated at £4,100,000.00 excluding VAT, will involve extensive work, including heritage-sensitive redecoration, structural changes, and safety upgrades. Suitable businesses would be those specialising in complex and historic structure restorations, with expertise in managing projects that require both architectural sensitivity and compliance with stringent safety and heritage standards. The procurement process involves registration on the Kent Business Portal, where all related tender documents will be accessible, fostering opportunities for eligible businesses to expand their portfolios through involvement in this prestigious cultural landmark project.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Refurbishment and Restoration of the Theatre Royal Margate

Notice Description

The Theatre Royal Margate is the second oldest theatre in the UK, Grade II* listed and the original structure was built in 1787. It closed its doors to the public in 2022 and Thanet District Council are now looking for an experienced contractor to carry out the capital works. The reopening of the Theatre Royal is essential to maximising Margate's arts offering to the community and feeds into Thanet District Council's wider Town Plan. Scope: Essential refurbishment works to the Theatre Royal are required to enable its reopening. The scope of works will include careful heritage sensitive redecoration and specialist plasterwork, new stairs, toilets, bars and extension with lift. Alongside HVAC upgrades to meet Part L (where feasible in a Listed Building), and fire and life safety upgrades to meet Part B within the parameters of a Listed Building. The project has an estimated Construction Value of PS4,100,000.00 Funding: It should be noted the project is currently solely funded by the UK Government's Town Deal. With this, strict deadlines have been set to secure this funding which are outlined in the next section. Estimated Contract Value: PS4,100,000.00 excluding VAT Estimated Contract Value: PS4,920,000.00 including VAT Further information on this project can be obtained from the Planning Application submitted and RIBA Stage 3 Design information via the Thanet District Council Planning Portal. Procurement Timeline: The project is currently at RIBA Stage 4, having completed a wider Masterplan vision for the Theatre Royal, 19 Hawley Square, and connecting the public realm. Following its completion, a 'Phase 1' scope was defined and has been taken through to be developed to a RIBA Stage 4 detail. This design is due to be completed in early June 2026, following which the Tender process will be undertaken. The design team has been appointed based on their specific heritage and theatre experience. The design team include the following roles: - Project Manager and Quantity Surveyor - Lead Designer/Architect - Civil & Structural Engineer - Mechanical & Electrical Engineer As the scheme seeks to refurbish the second oldest theatre in the UK, the works are deemed specialist and thus require specialist design input. Therefore, specialists have been appointed to support the development of the RIBA Stage 4 design, including Stage Lighting and Audio Visual (SLAV), Sustainability, Theatre Technical, Acoustics, and Fire Engineering. The project will be procured via an Open Procedure with a Traditional single-stage procurement process, using a JCT Standard Form of Contract 2024. This project has a strict deadline to meet in order to enable the reopening of the Theatre Royal for Pantomime season 2027. Indicative dates for procurement are outlined below (based on an Open Procedure with a Traditional single-stage procurement process approach): RIBA Stage 4 Completed and Tender Released: Early June 2026 Tenders Returned: Late July 2026 Contract Award: September 2026 Practical Completion: September 2027 Procurement Approach: Due to the estimated contract value being close to the Public Procurement Threshold for Works including VAT, the decision has been taken that the procurement exercise will follow an above threshold open competitive procedure utilising the Council's eProcurement Portal, the Kent Business Portal. For Suppliers to participate in the procurement opportunity, you will need to register on the Kent Business Portal. Please go to the Kent Business Portal (www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk) and follow the registration process. Access to Procurement Documents: All documents relating to the procurement exercise for this project will be made available on the Kent Business Portal, following the UK4 Tender Notice being issued (Anticipated early June 2026).

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-067785
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028964-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Works
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

CPV Codes

45212100 - Construction work of leisure facilities

45212170 - Entertainment building construction work

45212300 - Construction work for art and cultural buildings

45212320 - Construction work for buildings relating to artistic performances

45212321 - Auditorium construction work

45212322 - Theatre construction work

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£4,100,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£4,100,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Mar 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
17 Jul 20264 months to go
Future Notice Date
8 Jun 20263 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
3 Sep 2026 - 3 Sep 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THANET DISTRICT 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
MARGATE
Postcode
CT9 1XZ
Post Town
Canterbury
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ4 Kent
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ44 East Kent
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Thanet
Electoral Ward
Cliftonville West
Westminster Constituency
East Thanet

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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