At risk theatre goes up for auction

A theatre in Doncaster left vacant for nearly 30 years has been put up for auction, with no reserve price.

Opened in 1899, The Grand Theatre in Doncaster closed in 1995 after being used as a bingo hall for over 30 years.

It has been on the Theatres at Risk Register since 2006.

A 2021 feasibility study into returning the grade II-listed building to use as a performance venue found its condition was so poor that even with urgently needed repairs, it would only be able to partially reopen with a reduced audience capacity.

Mr Vandenbrook, Associate Director at auction house Mark Jenkinson, told the BBC that residents were "saddened" to see the building's gradual decline.

He said: "It has been unused for almost 30 years, and putting the property up for sale at auction with nil reserve will no doubt be the catalyst for a positive new future for this much-loved Victorian icon, which definitely has the potential to become an asset to the city centre economy once again."

He added: "While it would be tremendous to see it return to use as an arts venue, in recent years, other period properties within the city centre, such as the Wool Market, have undergone sympathetic redevelopment that has given them a new identity, attracting more people into the city centre and serving as prime examples of successful regeneration projects."