More funding has been awarded to boost the refurbishment plans for Skegness Pier. East Lindsey District Council has been given £5million from Arts Council England’s Cultural Development Fund to regenerate the landmark attraction and the surrounding area, as well as the Embassy Theatre.
The funds will support the first phase of a multi-million pound redevelopment project led by the Mellors Group, which also runs Fantasy Island, reports Lincolnshire Live. Redevelopment proposals include improved accessibility, upgrades to the pier's façade, renewing the lighting and furniture on the pier, creating a safe pedestrianised walkway on the approach, the salvaging and restoring of abandoned beach huts and the construction of a new multi-use amphitheatre space, for seating and public events.
The project amounts to £22,353,895 just to cover the initial outline costs to restore the base, promenade and the head of the pier. Boston and Skegness MP Matt Warman said the project would need lots of funding.
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"It’s obviously really ambitious, especially with some of the figures that we've seen," Mr Warman said following the initial announcement back in 2021. "It would need a lot of support from the business community and potentially from the lottery or the government.
"The ambition is really impressive." The funding will also support continuing plans to establish the Embassy Theatre as a new international culture house which will connect it to other national and international venues and festivals.
The auditorium and dressing rooms will be refurbished, creating a new interactive classroom and creative workspaces as well as VIP boxes and a refurbished light box to enable high-quality productions, with improved access and facilities for all users, including installation of a Changing Places toilet. Theatre marketing officer at the Embassy Theatre, Brendan Bugg, said: "At this very early stage we are just delighted the there has been recognition for all the work we have done for the company so far.
"It is wonderful news." Mr Bugg said he hopes this is a signal of the arts industry moving into a more prosperous period. "Hopefully we will have a few years that will be the polar opposite to what Covid was like," he said.
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