Sarah Thorne Theatre in the Broadstairs Memorial Hall

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Kent County Council (KCC) has acted to safeguard the immediate future of the Sarah Thorne Theatre. By agreeing a 5 year lease allowing the Sarah Thorne Trust to remain in the Memorial Hall despite the necessary sale by auction of the building going ahead. This arrangement will allow the theatre group to continue offering performances and activities for the benefit of residents and the local community.

The sale of the former Broadstairs Memorial Hall is statutory because the building is no longer used by KCC.

The previous administration declared in 2024 that the building was surplus to KCC’s operational needs and proceeded to put it on the disposal list. Since taking office in May 2025, local councillor John Finch has worked extensively with local councils, businesses, and community groups to explore options for retaining the building, and the theatre that operates from it as a community asset.

To allow the maximum time for the development of proposals, Councillor Finch secured agreement to delay the sale of the building from May until the latest possible time in December. Despite these efforts, including initial interest from the Town Council, no solution was able to be reached.

Brian Collins is smiling for his headshot photo in front of the county hall steps

“The Sarah Thorne Theatre means a great deal to residents...”

Brian Collins Kent County Council's Deputy Leader

Brian Collins, Deputy Leader of KCC, said: "It is disappointing that we have not been able to find enough local interest and investment to support this community asset.

“The Sarah Thorne Theatre means a great deal to residents, and while I am proud that KCC has been able to support the group during the years that KCC community learning and skills operated from the building, without a viable proposal the council now has no choice but to move forward with the sale

I am fully aware of just how hard Cllr John Finch has been working to try and find a solution. He has now exhausted all options and no-one has come forward with a viable solution within the statutory timeframe.”

The building, has been identified  an “asset of community value”. Community groups have had 18 months to develop proposals to run the facilities; however, no viable proposals have been able to be taken forward during this time.  KCC is therefore now obliged by law to take steps to sell the building because it no longer uses it and no viable proposals were put forward from the Community.

In the absence of a viable community bid, the building must now proceed to auction. The property will be listed in November and auctioned in December 2025 through public auction with Clive Emson Auctioneers.

ENDS