Ashford Council Moves Ahead with Theatre Conversion at Former Mecca Bingo Site

Ashford Borough Council has lodged formal planning applications to transform the disused former Mecca Bingo and Odeon cinema building on Lower High Street into a flexible theatre and cultural space valued at £7.5 million, and the move follows years of local advocacy for renewed arts facilities in the town centre.

The scheme outlines a performance area that can seat up to 152 people or accommodate 220 standing, alongside a gallery, café and bar, several meeting rooms, and full restoration of the first-floor ballroom that once hosted dances and community events, while preliminary asbestos removal started on site in May 2026.

Project Details and Facilities

Council documents describe the venue as adaptable for live theatre productions, exhibitions, workshops and private functions, and the design retains key architectural features from the original Odeon cinema era while modernising access, acoustics and technical infrastructure to meet current standards.

Planners expect the ground-floor performance space to host touring companies and local amateur groups, and the upper-level ballroom restoration will create an additional area for smaller events or rehearsal use, creating multiple revenue streams that support ongoing operations.

Community Campaign and Strategic Alignment

Residents and arts organisations have pressed for a dedicated performance space since the bingo hall closed, and the current proposal matches priorities set out in the Borough Plan 2024-28 that targets increased footfall and cultural activity across the town centre.

Officials note that the project forms part of wider regeneration efforts along Lower High Street, where empty retail units have stood vacant for several years, and the new venue is expected to draw visitors who will also use nearby shops and restaurants.

Timeline and Current Works

Early enabling works began in May 2026 with asbestos removal and structural surveys, and the council anticipates a decision on the planning applications within the standard statutory period, after which detailed design and tendering would follow if approval is granted.

By October 2026 the site is scheduled to move into the main construction phase provided consents are secured, and project managers have indicated that the building could open to the public within two years of works commencing once funding and contractor arrangements are finalised.

Economic and Cultural Objectives

The redevelopment targets higher town-centre footfall through regular programming that includes evening performances, daytime classes and weekend markets in the gallery area, and the council has modelled visitor numbers based on comparable venues in similar sized Kent towns.

Local employment opportunities during construction and in the operational phase form part of the business case, while partnerships with regional arts organisations are already under discussion to secure a varied opening season that mixes professional and community-led events.

Conclusion

The planning applications represent a concrete step toward delivering the cultural facility that campaigners have sought for the disused cinema and bingo hall, and the project sits within the council's longer-term strategy to refresh the town centre economy through mixed-use cultural assets.

Further updates on the applications and any conditions attached to consent will be published through the council's planning portal as the process advances.