The Grand Theatre in Doncaster city centre is to be put up for auction later this month and will be included in the July online sale of Sheffield-based property auctioneer Mark Jenkinson, part of the Eddisons property group, and will be offered on a nil reserve basis, with no minimum guide price.
The imposing grade II-listed building, located on Trafford Way and next to the Frenchgate Centre, was built in 1898. The Grand Theatre became a bingo hall in 1963 and finally closed down in 1995, since when it has remained empty and has gradually fallen into a state of disrepair.
Inside, the theatre building retains its original curved galleries, a stage with proscenium arch and decorative plaster ceiling.
A long-running campaign to bring the substantial and imposing landmark property back into use as a performance venue commissioned a feasibility study in 2021, which found that urgent repair works would be needed before it could be re-opened, even with a greatly reduced audience capacity.
James Vandenbrook, associate director at auctioneer Mark Jenkinson, said: “The Grand Theatre is a really well known building in Doncaster and the whole community has been saddened to see it gradually decline into a state of dereliction.
“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.
“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.”
He added: “Not surprisingly, we have been contacted by several potential buyers interested in acquiring the Grand Theatre.”
