Whitley Bay's Spanish City wins £3.5m revamp

An artist's impression of how the revamped Spanish City complex will look

Plans to restore one of Tyneside's most recognisable landmarks have been given a £3.5m lottery boost.

Whitley Bay's 116-year-old Spanish City, with its distinctive white dome, closed in 2000.

North Tyneside Council plans to restore the Grade II listed structure as part of a larger redevelopment of the seaside town.

The restoration will see the building reopen as a leisure, conference and wedding venue.

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) cash will be used along with £4m from the local authority and a £2.5m grant from the Coastal Communities Fund.

Whitley Bay's Spanish City, with its distinctive white dome, closed in 2000

North Tyneside's mayor Norma Redfearn said: "The dome has a rich and wonderful past history and this HLF grant will guarantee its future is just as wonderful."

The Spanish City Dome is an early example of the "Hennebique" patented system of reinforced concrete construction.

When it was built in 1910, the dome was the largest freestanding dome in the UK after St Paul's Cathedral.

It became part of a modern amusement park and was immortalised in the 1981 Dire Straits song "Tunnel of Love".

After the park closed, the building remained empty for five years and fell into disrepair.