- Value
- £12.6m
- Closes
- 8 Jan 2027 (61 days)
- Where
- South East
- Lots
- 1
- Suitable for SMEs
- Yes, says the buyer
- Contract
- 1 Apr 2027 – 31 Mar 2042
In plain English
Ashford Borough Council wants a long-term partner to manage and run the new Ashford Arts Centre, a community and commercial venue in the former Odeon cinema in Ashford town centre, under a concession arrangement. The contract runs from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2042, with an estimated £12,600,000 of cumulative operator income over the 25-year term (excluding VAT and public subsidy), which is not a guarantee.
Good fit for: Experienced arts venue or theatre operators able to run live performance, community use, and a bar, cafe and events offer.
Written with AI from the official notice. Check the notice before relying on it.
What the buyer says
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.
Getting the documents
kentbusinessportal.org.uk (the buyer's own site, usually free to register).
Procedure: Competitive flexible procedure (Flexible: the buyer sets the stages, often a shortlist first, then bids). Published 29 Oct 2026.
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