NORTH Somerset Council is looking for an experienced venue operator to lease the Tropicana in Weston-super-Mare under a concession contract for at least 20 years following major refurbishment.

The Tropicana has played host to notable events and celebrities since it opened in 1937.

North Somerset Council has operated the indoor and outdoor events and entertainment venue since it reopened in 2015, and during that time has hosted events including the internationally acclaimed SEE Monster and Banksy’s Dismaland.

The council’s vision for the site is to become a nationally significant venue for culture, arts and entertainment.

The refurbishment project will:

• Increase the site’s capacity to over 5,000 people

• Rebuild a new highly-flexible, purpose-built indoor event space with a minimum capacity of 1,000 people

• Introduce sustainable energy and operating systems

• Make major repairs and improvements to the heritage building on the promenade and outdoor arena.

Designs by award winning architecture firm RCKa are due to be submitted for planning approval next month (October 2024).

Work is currently scheduled to finish by December 2025, with a new operator being sought to start fit out and reopen the Tropicana shortly afterwards.

The new operator will have significant experience in operating successful cultural and entertainment venues to provide an exciting programme of year-round entertainment in the newly refurbished venue to attract visitors to the seafront and help raise the profile of Weston as an ideal town to live, visit, work and invest.

Councillor Mike Solomon, North Somerset Council’s executive member responsible for seafronts, events and concessions, said: "The much-loved Tropicana is an important destination at the heart of the seafront in Weston-super-Mare.

“Thanks to funding secured from central government, it will be given a new lease of life to make sure facilities are fit for purpose and flexible enough to host a wider range of activities.

“We want to attract higher profile acts, culture and entertainment events to elevate Weston’s place within the regional, national and international scene.

“The important basic infrastructure works will enable a commercial operator to help us in this goal – and we know there is interest after a soft market testing exercise we did last year.

“I’m pleased that the Tropicana operator procurement is now open as this is an extremely exciting prospect, not just for the town and local residents but for North Somerset and beyond.”

For more information about the contract opportunity, visit the Supplying the South West procurement website (reference: DN740601) www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk.

Expressions of interest must be received by 11am on Friday, October 4.

The Tropicana is one of several high-profile sites across Weston’s town centre and seafront set to be improved as part of a programme of work made possible thanks to North Somerset Council’s successful bid for £20 million investment from the UK government.

Other sites include Birnbeck Pier, Grove Park, Marine Lake and shops on the High Street.

Find out more at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/improvingweston.