THE Floral Pavilion could be turned into a new arts and cultural hub as four options are considered for the future of the New Brighton theatre.

A decision on future plans will be made early next year in 2025 with the option to close it still on the table.

Due to unachieved savings and issues with its budget last year, the council was forced to review the theatre’s budget as well as draw up plans to keep the building on Marine Promenade running into the future. Five options were put forward but these have been whittled down to four.

These include keeping the existing model with a maximum subsidy of £500,000 from the council, creating an arts and cultural hub with a mix of council, community, and commercial uses, having a commercial operator take it over, or close it entirely. However closing the Floral is “not a preferred option” given 70% of people in 2018 wanted it to remain a community asset.

The Floral is reportedly doing better than in previous years due to plans to bring in bigger and better shows with things “looking quite favourable” in July, with hard work to improve engagement and audience numbers paying off. Director of Neighbourhoods, Jason Gooding, said there were “exciting plans for the Floral Pavilion going forward” at the time.

Unlike at the same point last year where the department was over budget by £1.8m, it is expecting to see a balanced position this year. Staff savings of £130,000 and reducing agency staff costs have made “good progress” and self-service ticket machines could be brought in.

At a tourism, communities, culture, and leisure committee meeting on September 19, councillors are being asked to approve the findings of a report  that has been kept confidential, allow council officers to finalise a business case in early 2025, and “establish” the Floral’s place with the regeneration of New Brighton, its value, and wider impact.

Officers said the report due in September on the future operation of the Floral Pavilion Theatre may “consider its place in Wallasey alongside Wallasey Central Library.” The report suggests an arts and cultural hub is the preferred option as this would support the regeneration of New Brighton.

The September report said: “The Council aspires to protect insofar as possible all of its frontline services and create a sustainable future for the communities that use them. The move to develop an Arts and Cultural Hub for Wirral can deliver a revitalised future for a number of its asset-based services, contribute to local regeneration plans, strategic priorities, and make the venue the heart of a hyperlocal urban and coastal community.

“Financial stability can be achieved in line with the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan with modest investment, a revision of the operating model and without wholesale structural change.”

The report said the Floral could follow the likes of the Chester Storyhouse or The Edge Theatre and Arts Centre in Manchester. The new hub could include a new library, youth services, community and family hubs as well as further support.

According to the report, the inclusion of a library could help increase use of the service and the council currently spends £3.2m on providing library services. It’s thought the new hub could increase footfall into New Brighton by nearly 130,000 and increase profit from conferencing by £85,000 to £256,000.

A membership scheme could also be introduced generating £3,500 in the first year and £11,000 after three years. The council thinks these plans could help target young audiences as well as the 65,000 users of the theatre who live close by.

Going forward, the new hub could also help save the council £418,000 as well as support plans for 250 new homes, a new 90 bed hotel, and other improvements to New Brighton. The business case will look into the options in more detail including the work needed to be done to the building. This is currently estimated to be £2.9m.