Theatre left empty for 30 years to be auctioned

The Grade-II listed Grand Theatre in Doncaster has been unused since 1995

A Victorian theatre which has stood empty for almost 30 years has been put up for auction with no reserve price.

The Grand Theatre in Doncaster has fallen into disrepair since it closed in 1995 and earlier this year was added to the Theatres at Risk Register.

Auctioneer James Vandenbrook said despite the Grade II-listed building's condition several potential buyers had already come forward ahead of a bid deadline of 17 July.

He said he hoped finding new owners could be "the catalyst for a positive new future" for the venue.

Built in 1899, the theatre became a bingo hall in 1963, before shutting for good three decades later.

A long-running campaign to bring the property back into use as a performance venue commissioned a feasibility study in 2021.

But this found that urgent repair works would be needed before it could be re-opened, even with a greatly reduced audience capacity.

In April, campaigners marked its 125th anniversary by calling for it to be brought back into use.

The venue has fallen into disrepair

Mr Vandenbrook, associate director at auctioneer Mark Jenkinson, said the community in Doncaster had been "saddened" by its gradual decline.

He said: "It has been unused for almost 30 years and putting the property up for sale at auction with nil reserve will no doubt be the catalyst for a positive new future for this much-loved Victorian icon, which definitely has the potential to become an asset to the city centre economy once again."

A long-running campaign has tried to bring the theatre back into use as a performance venue

He added: "While it would be tremendous to see it return to use as an arts venue, in recent years other period properties within the city centre, such as the Wool Market, have undergone sympathetic redevelopment that has given them a new identity, attracting more people into the city centre and serving as prime examples of successful regeneration projects."

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