Stoke Council ‘quietly confident’ about cuts to theatre subsidies

Stoke-on-Trent Council is to review its subsidies of the city’s two largest theatres.

Victoria Hall and Hanley’s Regent Theatre are owned by the council but have been run by the commercial company Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) since 1998 and 1999 respectively.

ATG’s contracts, which currently include £280k in yearly council subsidies, expire in September 2026.

The Local Democracy Reporting service understands that the council is negotiating with ATG to cut the subsidy as part of cost-saving measures while ensuring that major tours and high-profile acts continue to visit the city.

In the new contracts, which will last between 15 and 20 years, the council is also seeking to transfer building risk to the operator and include a requirement for it to invest in the buildings.

A city council spokesperson said: “We are in discussion with Ambassador Theatre Group about the future of the two venues when the current arrangements end. We are also taking advice on the best way to secure best value for the future management of the venues, post September 2026.

“We currently pay a subsidy of £280,000 per year but we anticipate that will end when the current contracts end, as per a previous year’s budget savings proposal.

“We are quietly confident that the venues can be operated successfully in the future without the current subsidy.”