Historic fixtures and features to be saved when Southport Theatre and Floral Hall demolition begins

Numerous historic and iconic fixtures and features of Southport Theatre and the Floral Hall will be salvaged before demolition work on the building begins this July. 

Sefton Council has revealed a list of some of the treasured items to be saved, which includes glass from the main done in the Floral Hall, wheat motifs on the Floral Hall, film wheels and projectors, metal film boxes, signage, old postcards and magazines, theatre seats, and the famous sprung wooden dance floor. 

Also due to be saved is a memorial plaque to Phil King, known by many as ‘Mr Southport’, who was Sefton Council’s Chief Tourism and Attractions Officer. He sadly died in April, 2014.

Mr King worked tirelessly to put the resort on the map and worked for Sefton Council between 1977-98.

The plaque was unveiled by Ken Dodd in May 2015. 

Phil King former head of tourism in Southport with a personally engraved plank which along with 2000 others are being used in a sponsorship scheme to raise money for the replenishment of Southport Pier

Ken Dodd said at the time: “Phil King was absolutely Mr Southport.

“He loved the town and was totally dedicated to the promotion of everything good about Southport – especially the theatre.”

Some of the items will be restored and reused inside the brand new £73 million Marine Lake Events Centre which will be built on the site of the former Southport Theatre and Convention Centre, which closed in March 2020. 

Sefton Council has previously suggested that the historic dome in the Floral Hall in Southport could be given a new lease of life as a new glass artwork installation in the new Marine Lake Events Centre.

The Floral Hall dome in Southport

The design could be created through a competition, involving students from Southport College.

Other artefacts from the Art Deco building would also be preserved as part of a heritage display, while other items would be re-used such as old cinema reels being converted into new light installations in the Cafe.

The ideas were revealed as Sefton Council officially submitted its planning application to demolish the former Southport Theatre and Convention Centre and replace it with a ‘market leading’ new £73 million Marine Lake Events Centre, plus a Water and Light Show on the Marine Lake in front.

The Floral Hall in Southport

The architects behind the scheme, AFL Architects (AFL), said in the application that they are keen to “honour the artefacts from the Floral Hall”.

They said: “The design team is looking to reuse artefacts from the Floral Hall in the interior design of the new building, further developing the Art Deco principles.

“The design team are reviewing the potential to:

• turn the dome into a glass artwork installation / light features;
• reuse projectors and other artefacts as part of a heritage display wall in the lower concourse
• reuse existing lights and grilles as Art Deco features in the VIP Lounge bar
• reuse old cinema reels as light installations in the Cafe.”

The Floral Hall in Southport

The list of objects has been split into two sections by council officers. 

The first section is a list of defined items that Sefton Council “fully expects to salvage prior to demolition of the building”. 

The second section features “items which are potentially salvage-able, following detailed investigations on site. 

“The reuse of the salvaged items (in either section of the report) are design intent only and removal of the features and further detailed and specialist knowledge is required to determine the feasibility of the proposals. 

“Elements that could not be used in the project, may be made available to be used by the community.” 

Memorabilia from Southport Theatre

Section 1 includes flush chandeliers, pendant chandeliers and wall-mounted chandeliers. 

It also includes: film wheels, film wheel cabinets, film wheel towers, film projectors, metal film boxes, brass handrails, and backlit signage from the foyer, kiosk and merchandise. 

There is a selection of old postcards, films and magazines featuring stars of the past including Ken Dodd – who made hundreds of appearances at Southport Theatre over the years. 

A film projector from Southport Theatre

Other stars include Winona Ryder, Debbie Harry, The Supremes, and the Roly Polys! 

Also on the list are pendant lighting, and decorative grilles.

Section 2 includes external lamps, control panels, radiators, the wooden dance floor, 14 theatre seats and glass from the Floral Hall dome. 

The Floral Hall was built in 1930 and opened in 1932, originally 900 square yards in size with a sprung wooden floor for dancing. 

The Floral Hall in Southport

It was expanded with the addition of Southport Theatre in 1973 

From the main entrance on the Promenade, stairs lead down from the box office to the front part of the hall. 

It was extended in 1973 to make a larger foyer / catering area linking with the theatre, so that box-office etc were shared, making conference use possible. 

Southport Theatre was officially opened by Hollywood star Marlene Dietrich in May 1973. 

Grilles at Southport Theatre

The demolition of the former Southport Theatre and Convention Centre will begin this July with the aim of completing the works by the end of the year. 

The landmark building will be replaced by the £73 million brand-new, state-of-the-art, Marine Lake Events Centre and associated water and light show. 

The scheme is being led by Sefton Council and is the major development of Southport Town Deal. 

Brass hand rails from Southport Theatre

The new centre will be a flexible events space that is forecast to attract over half a million new visitors to Southport each year and generate an annual £18 million boost for the local economy. 

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