Hazlitt Theatre to return to contractor in council U-turn

Maidstone Council has decided to continue its contract with Parkwood Leisure to run Hazlitt Theatre.

The council had decided at a meeting in November to end the contract and take control of the theatre, citing a need to cut costs. Some locals feared the venue would be closed.

However, the vaccine rollout has given the council confidence the theatre can reopen sooner than projected. Parkwood Leisure has presented a new business plan that convinced the council to resume the contract.

The decision will be reviewed in April, pending developments in the spread of the coronavirus.