Churchill Theatre - Secret Buyer Revealed

After months of secrecy, Bromley's Conservative Councillors have finally disclosed the identity of the buyer of the Churchill Theatre: Galliard Group. The same developer who recently purchased the old Civic Centre Site. You can read the Council's press release here. 

Although the public was informed back in September 2024 that the site had been sold, the buyer’s identity was witheld, allegedly due to the contract not being finalised and the information being commercially sensitive. Yet, on 18th June, the name was revealed despite contracts still being incomplete. We suspect the timing was influenced by the Bromley Common & Holwood by-election, during which Council Officers face restrictions on what communications can be issued.

This raises serious questions about the Council's use of confidentiality as a shield from public scrutiny. It also highlights how, under the banner of “commercial-in-confidence”, Councillors are restricted in their ability to hold decision makers accountable for major deals made behiind closed doors. 

Crucial details of the transaction remain undisclosed, most notably the sale price. Without transparency, residents are right to question whether the best possible value has been secured for Bromley taxpayers.

We look forward to hearing more from Galliard about their plans for the library section of the building. However, we understand that their bid suggested the lower floors might be repurposed for leisure use, with office space on the upper levels. We expect Trafalgar Theatres to issue a separate statement soon regarding their future plans for the theatre.  

We welcome the news that Trafalgar Theatres will be granted a secure long-term lease under the new ownership. We sincerely hope Galliard will prove to be more responsible custodians than Bromley Council, which has allowed the building to deteriorate. While we continue to question the decision to spend £15 million relocating the library to the former Top Shop building, we recognise that a thoughtfully designed leisure venue could play a vital role in revitalising Bromley’s town centre.
 

That said, key concerns remain. 

• Was the sale handled in a way that achieved the best value for residents?
• Why was there no meaningful public consultation?
• Has the Council protected the site's future as a theatre through legally binding commitments?

We await further announcements from Trafalgar Theatres and Galliard Group, but stress that any redevelopment proposals will require formal planning approval by Bromley Council - and we will scrutinise them closely.

Cllr. Julie Ireland said:
“We didn’t want the Council to sell the site—we wanted it to remain in public ownership. But now that it’s been sold, we must look ahead and work with the new owners to ensure the best possible outcome for the people of Bromley.”
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Background

The future of the Churchill Theatre has been uncertain since November 2022, when the Conservative-led Council announced plans to sell the site. The justification was that the building had fallen into disrepair and was “nearing the end of its design life,” with repair costs spiralling.

In response, 5,585 local residents signed a Liberal Democrat petition to save the theatre—an effort that likely influenced the Council’s decision to retain the theatre in its current location. In September 2024, it was announced that a developer had agreed to purchase the leasehold, with Trafalgar Theatres remaining as tenants and the building set to be refurbished and made structurally sound.