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Ashford Arts Centre Operator

Ashford Borough Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

29 Oct 2026 at 11:43

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

28 Oct 2026 at 17:28

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Ashford Borough Council is seeking a partner to manage and operate Ashford Arts Centre, a new community and commercial arts venue being created by redeveloping the former Odeon cinema in Ashford town centre. The programme is intended to include theatre, live performance, comedy, family shows and community activities, alongside hospitality and events. The operator will be responsible for running the venue as a performance and arts facility, with associated café, bar and entertainment services. The design is at RIBA Stage 3, so the venue’s scope remains subject to confirmation as it develops. The work is delivered in Ashford, Kent.

The Council invited offers through a competitive flexible procedure, with an initial questionnaire and tender submission, followed by possible negotiation and final tenders. The contract period is 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2042. The bid deadline set by the Council was 8 January 2027 at 10:00, and the stated award decision date was 8 March 2027. The estimated operator income over the 25-year term is £12.6 million excluding VAT and public subsidy (£15.12 million including VAT); this is an indication of scale, not a forecast or guaranteed income, and bidders must develop their own financial assumptions. There is one lot. Evaluation is weighted 60% quality, 25% commercial offer, 10% business case and 5% legal. Economic and technical participation criteria apply.

The opportunity suits organisations able to operate a mixed-use arts and performance venue for both community and commercial audiences. Relevant strengths include producing or presenting theatre, live entertainment, comedy and family programming; engaging community users; and managing hospitality, bar and event services. The Council expects bidders to demonstrate sufficient capability and financial standing at the questionnaire stage, with economic and technical selection requirements applying. Bidders need to develop their own operating and financial case using their venue-management experience and the procurement information, rather than rely on the Council’s indicative income modelling. The concession structure places operating risk on the operator, as set out in the concession agreement. The opportunity is identified as suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Ashford Arts Centre Operator

Notice Description

The Council seeks a suitably skilled, long-term partner to manage and operate Ashford Arts Centre (AAC) via a concession arrangement. AAC is a new community and commercial arts centre being delivered by the Council through the redevelopment of the former Ashford Odeon cinema building, in Ashford town centre. The design for AAC is currently at RIBA Stage 3, and details in respect of the scope of the AAC in the suite of procurement documents should be treated as subject to confirmation as the design develops. AAC's programme is intended to include theatre, live performance, comedy, family shows and community use, alongside a hospitality and events offer, ensuring there is something to suit a broad range of audiences within a scale appropriate to Ashford. The estimated value stated in this notice is based on detailed financial modelling completed by Blue Horizon Ventures on behalf of the Council. The model draws on the RIBA Stage 3 design for AAC, benchmark data from comparable venues, and projected commercial and community activity across the venue's spaces, reflecting its intended role as a hybrid commercial and community performance venue. The figure represents cumulative operator income over the 25 year contract term, excluding VAT and public subsidy. It is shared to give Tenderers an indication of scale so that they can plan their interest and resources with confidence. It is not a forecast or a guarantee of future income, and it is not intended to be used as the basis for Tenderers' own financial modelling. Tenderers are required to develop their own assumptions, drawing on their operating experience and the information in the tender pack.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0792e2
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/102539-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services

75 - Administration, defence and social security services

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

CPV Codes

55330000 - Cafeteria services

55400000 - Beverage-serving services

55410000 - Bar management services

75200000 - Provision of services to the community

92000000 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

92300000 - Entertainment services

92310000 - Artistic and literary creation and interpretation services

92312000 - Artistic services

92312110 - Theatrical producer entertainment services

92320000 - Arts-facility operation services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£12,600,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£12,600,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Oct 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
8 Jan 20273 months to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2042 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Ashford Borough 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
ASHFORD
Postcode
TN23 1HU
Postcode Area
Tonbridge
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ4 Kent
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ45 Mid Kent
Delivery Location
TLJ4 Kent
Local Authority
Ashford
Electoral Ward
Victoria
Westminster Constituency
Ashford

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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