Richard Carr to bid for theatre complex

From the Echo, first published Wednesday 15th Oct 2003.

BUSINESSMAN Richard Carr has confirmed he will be bidding to take over Bournemouth's Pavilion.

Bournemouth Borough Council has put the theatre and ballroom complex on the market as part of a package of measures which includes saving the Winter Gardens.

Private organisations have until Friday to register their interest in the venue.

Mr Carr, chairman of Future 3000 PLC, said he would be voicing an interest but would not reveal any details of his plans.

"I'm not saying anything relating to the Pavilion at this stage except that I'm part of a consortium that will be bidding," he said.

Future 3000 sold its Opera House nightclub earlier this year, announcing its intention to focus on restaurants, bars and hotels.

The company is also behind one of two rival schemes for Bournemouth Pier which are being analysed by council officers. It ran into opposition when it suggested turning the Pier Theatre into a casino.

Bournemouth council is looking for private operators to invest in the Pavilion and keep it as a theatre.

Conservative Cllr Bob Chapman, formerly leader of the council, claimed it was "most unlikely" the private sector would keep the venue as a theatre.

"We've tested the market many times before and we know that a private operator would be delighted to take it over if we provide them with a substantial subsidy," he said.

He was concerned the venue could be lost to the amateur musical scene and to touring productions. "It's the only venue in the Bournemouth-Poole conurbation that can hold a reasonable audience like 1,500 people to see a touring London musical because it has a fully equipped stage," he added.

But Cllr Andrew Garratt, a member of the council's Liberal Democrat cabinet, said: "He doesn't seem to want to ask anybody what they would do, whereas we're prepared to say `Give us some ideas and if we like them, maybe we'll proceed with them', but we'll have thoughts of our own."

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