--- title: "Refurbishment and Restoration of the Theatre Royal Margate" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-067785" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-067785" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-067785.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-067785.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "THANET DISTRICT COUNCIL" published: "2026-03-30" --- # Refurbishment and Restoration of the Theatre Royal Margate Buyer: THANET DISTRICT COUNCIL Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-067785 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-067785) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-067785.json) ## Summary 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. ## Notice 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). ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028964-2026 | | 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 | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 30 Mar 2026 | | Submission deadline | 17 Jul 2026 | | Future notice date | 8 Jun 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 3 Sep 2026 - 3 Sep 2027 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £4,100,000 | | Lots value | £4,100,000 | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planned | | Lots status | Planned | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | THANET DISTRICT COUNCIL | | Locality | MARGATE | | Post town | Canterbury | | Postcode | CT9 1XZ | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLJ4 Kent | | ITL 3 | TLJ44 East Kent | | Local authority | Thanet | | Electoral ward | Cliftonville West | | Westminster constituency | East Thanet | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 45 - Construction work ### 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 ## Release History - 30 Mar 2026 at 10:13 - Planning - UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028964-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028964-2026 30th March 2026 - Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-067785. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-067785.json.