Churchill Theatre Sold for a Song

Churchill Theatre Site Sold for a Song 

Bromley Conservatives have sold the Churchill Theatre site for just £500,000 - less than the price of an average house in Bromley. This prime high street location includes the Central Library building, yet it was given away for a fraction of its true value.

After decades of neglect and failure to invest in essential repairs, the Council faced a huge maintenance bill and chose a cheap sale of the freehold instead of taking responsibility for one of the borough’s most important cultural assets. This short-sighted decision shows they cannot be trusted with Bromley's cultural heritage - or taxpayers' money.

Thanks to Trafalgar Theatres, the Churchill will continue to host a fantastic programme of shows, keeping the theatre safe for many years. But to secure the sale, the Conservatives refused to include a covenant guaranteeing the site’s use as a theatre in perpetuity – meaning there is no cast-iron guarantee that a theatre will always remain in the heart of Bromley.

Lib Dem Councillor Julie Ireland said: 

“This is financial mismanagement and a complete failure to value the arts or Bromley’s cultural identity. Selling public land at a knockdown price without long-term safeguards is indefensible. It also meant the Council spent £13m unnecessarily on the move of Central Library to the old Top Shop Building. ”

Bromley Liberal Democrats fought alongside residents to protect the theatre and will continue campaigning for transparency, accountability, and lasting protection for our borough’s cultural landmarks.

The sale price has only just been made public following a Freedom of Information request - until now it has been kept secret on the grounds of being commercially sensitive.