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Cinema and theatre construction sees starts surge to £457m as refurbishments and venue upgrades gather pace.

According to ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº construction data, one bright spot for new construction work in the opening months of this year has been cinema and theatre developments.

Insights from the ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Construction Review highlight a dramatic rise in new activity in the sector recently, with project starts on cinema & theatre schemes worth £457 million in the December-February period; a near six-fold increase on a year earlier and more than any other area within the hotel & leisure sector.

The upturn in construction work on theatres reflects positive underlying trends in the sector. Theatre attendances rose above 37 million people in 2024 – above pre-pandemic levels – and West End theatre revenues exceeded £1 billion for the first time. Regional theatres have also seen a growth in attendance.

Extensions and improvements

Rather than building new facilities, theatre construction has tended to focus on extensions and improvements to accessibility, hospitality, and backstage/rehearsal areas, and energy efficiency.

¹û¶³Ó°Ôº project data shows one major regional project where work is due to start this summer is the Telford Theatre Remodelling, a £20 million council-backed scheme involving the construction of a new main theatre auditorium, studio, concourse, and back-of-house facilities, along with refurbishment work. The scheme, which is at the pre-construction service agreement stage, involves around 3,500 sq m of space, and work is set to run for 24 months (Project ID: 23292670).

Meanwhile, planning permission has been granted for a £4.9 million refurbishment and restoration of the Theatre Royal Margate, with a contract notice due in June. The project includes a two-storey side extension, roof solar panels, and extensive refurbishment (Project ID: 26162369).

Further along the south coast, tenders are being reviewed for the £16.5 million De La Warr Pavilion refurbishment in Bexhill-on-Sea (pictured), which involves a renovation of an auditorium, redesigned foyer spaces, and better accessibility (Project ID: 25360784).

In the capital, planning permission has been granted, and work is set to start this autumn on the £2 million Troubadour Greenwich Peninsula Theatre, which will also be used as a venue for filming and various shows (Project ID: 25474232).

Meanwhile, ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº project data gives numerous examples of smaller West End Theatre projects in the pipeline – typically under £250,00 – involving extensions and refurbishments.

They include schemes at the Palace Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue (Project ID: 26147470); alterations to the Royal National Theatre (Project ID: 25447917), and alterations to the Adelphi Theatre in the Strand (Project ID: 25606654).

Developments on screens

Meanwhile, ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº data points to rising activity in the cinema sector, particularly for refurbishing and upgrading existing sites, amid a promising outlook for venue attendances.

A recent research article from said that the UK cinema sector showed ‘notable resilience in 2024 and 2025’ following years of disruption and that it ‘enters 2026 with a credible platform for further recovery and renewed strategic momentum.’

New cinema developments increasingly involve complementary facilities such as restaurants and alternative entertainment venues.

In Plymouth, for example, plans have been submitted to re-open the former Art Deco Royal Cinema as a three-screen cinema, visual arts hub and music venue with seating for up to 300, along with a restaurant and bar (Project ID: 26204525).

Meanwhile, in Ashington, Northumberland, work on the £7.5 million Portland Park Cinema Phase 1 is due to start this summer after detailed plans were granted for a six-screen facility along with two restaurant units. Robertson Construction is the main contractor on the scheme, which is set to run for six months (Project ID: 19306814).

New cinemas are also being included in projects to revive retail zones. At the Brunswick Centre in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, a former shopping centre is being redeveloped with a scheme involving a cinema, various commercial/retail/leisure units, and a new drinking spot. Work on the £40.1 million scheme is set to start this summer (Project ID: 23044026).

Meanwhile, in Edinburgh, work on the £5 million Cameron Toll Shopping Centre Development is due to start this spring with a cinema development alongside new space for retail, office, and food and drink (Project ID: 20061031).