Landmark pavilion gets £77k boost for revamp

Selsey Pavilion closed its doors as a cinema in 1974

A 112-year-old art deco theatre in West Sussex has received a second grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of its ongoing revamp.

The Selsey Pavilion, which closed as a cinema 51 years ago, has been awarded £77,424 to transform a small hall at its rear into "a multi-purpose heritage hub".

The Selsey Pavilion Trust said the money would allow structural repairs and improvements and help to create "a welcoming, accessible community space" for exhibitions, workshops, wellbeing classes, performances and school projects.

Its vice chair, Keith Batchelor, said it was "fantastic" to receive the grant "so soon after the successful completion of our previous project".

He said the "back-to-back support shows how much confidence the heritage fund has in the pavilion's future".

In its heyday, Selsey Pavilion - built in 1913 - was a multi-purpose entertainment venue which hosted community events and many famous performers.

After 1945 it became a full-time cinema and also hosted seasonal pantomimes, before closing in 1974 when it was let to an aviation catering firm for use as a packing facility.

Last year, it came into the ownership of a trust of residents with grand plans for its revival.

Mr Batchelor said: "Our new heritage hub will not only safeguard a vulnerable part of the building but also create a space for everyone in Selsey to enjoy and be proud of."

Stuart McLeod, a director at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, added: "Investing in heritage means investing in people and places.

"We are proud to support the Selsey Pavilion Trust in preserving this important building and bringing the community together."

The work will run from this October until summer 2026, culminating in a public launch event to celebrate the refurbished hall's reopening.