Last act looms as Scarborough Futurist Theatre site plea fails

It has been hosting traditional seaside shows since World War One and has played host to some of the biggest names in showbusiness including The Beatles.

At a meeting last month Scarborough Council leader Tom Fox said he wanted to keep its doors open for as long as possible to keep the site ready for regeneration. Finance director Nick Edwards rejected calls for a big cash injection into the building, insisting a “make do and mend” approach must continue.

Cabinet members voted unanimously to back a report by Mr Edwards stating that the Futurist is unsustainable as a theatre and the council should investigate options for the prime 4.2 acre site which runs from St Nicholas Street, through the King Street car park and down the cliff to the theatre.

The council’s health and wellbeing scrutiny committee has now upheld that decision.

Speaking after the meeting, Coun David Jeffels, scrutiny committee chairman said: “It is a very important site, not only occupying a prime area on the heart of the seafront, but with its links up the cliff to St Nicholas Street, it offers tremendous potential to create an iconic architectural and holiday industry asset to Scarborough. However, nothing is ruled in, and nothing ruled out. A theatre could form part of a future development along with a number of other opportunities.”

The authority had said it will negotiate with the theatre’s operator but if an alternative is not found it may have to close.