£73m Southport events centre approved

Kier will deliver the Marine Lake Events Centre as Sefton Council’s preferred design and build contractor. 

Sefton Council has granted planning permission for the 1,500 capacity venue. 

Construction is set to start this summer.

Plans for the former Southport Theatre include: 

• A theatre with 1,200 seated or 1,500 seated and standing capacity. 
• Exhibition hall that can accommodate between 1,000 and 2,400 people. 
• Moveable “Harlequin Liberty Ballroom” sprung dance floor. 
• Breakout facilities/rooms. 
• Cafe and restaurant. 
• Balcony overseeing the Marine Lake.
• Car Park improvement. 

The venue is expected to be open by April 2026 and operated by preferred partner ASM Global. 

Partners

Sefton Council undertook a feasibility study on the future of the Southport Theatre with: 

• In Partnership With (IPW).
• Gardiner & Theobold. 
• AECOM. 
• HOK Architects. 

IPW supported the council during the Town’s Fund process. 

Funding 

The council secured £33.3 million from the Town’s Fund. 

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (CA) has invested £17.7 million, on top of the £2.3 million it provided for pre-development work. 

Sefton Council is also investing £19.7 million. 

Social value 

The scheme is expected to create 200 jobs and attract more than half a million visitors a year. 

Around £18 million is expected to be put into the local economy. 

“It’s a hugely transformational project designed to boost the local economy, create new job opportunities and bring thousands of extra visitors to our beautiful Borough each year,” said Stephen Watson, Sefton Council’s executive director of place. 

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