Victorian theatre awarded £450,000 for repairs

The Grade II listed theatre has had rain leaking in through parts of the roof

A Victorian theatre has been awarded £450,000 for restoration and repairs.

A survey of the Grade II listed Grand Theatre in Blackpool found rainwater was leaking in through parts of the roof last year.

The funding from Arts Council England will be used towards repairs of the building’s stone and brickwork, as well as making the theatre, which opened in 1894, more accessible to visitors.

The revamp is part of a planned £15m restoration of the area.

The funding from Arts Council England will be used towards repairs and accessibility

The funding will ensure the safety of the building and allow audiences and visitors to access parts of the theatre which have previously been inaccessible.

The stone and brick work will be replaced and repointed where it is damaged.

The Victorian iron gutters will be restored, and slate and lead will be replaced on the two acres of roof.

Blackpool Grand Theatre chief executive, Adam Knight, said: “We are hugely grateful to the Arts Council for this significant and very timely investment in our heritage building, which has been struggling to cope with the impact of climate change and recent Irish Sea storms.

“This funding will also return the theatre’s famous dome and iconic pineapple finial to their former glory and enable us to use the funds that were generously donated by the community.

"This is just the beginning of the journey to restore Frank Matcham’s masterpiece.”

Darren Henley, chief executive of Arts Council England, said the investment was "particularly important" where "cultural investment has historically been low”.