Salford Victoria Theatre has been put up for sale at auction with a price tag of £650,000.
The Grade-II listed building, once a thriving theatre, cinema and bingo hall, opened up in 1900 – but has fallen into a state of disrepair in recent years.
The private owner has most recently put the site up for sale, with bids starting from December 3 and closing on December 4.
The Salford Victoria Theatre was first opened in 1899 and has had a colourful history; being used as a cinema, a furniture shop and a stage to host pantomimes or most recently bingo.
The site has been repurposed over the years and was placed on the Theatre Trust’s ‘at risk’ register in 2012. The following year, local campaigners kickstarted the Save the Victoria Theatre (SVTT) goup.
But the future of the site remains uncertain. The auction listing describes the site as an ‘exciting development opportunity’.
Sam Kelly, chairperson, told SalfordNow: “We’ll welcome any owner who wants to help with the restoration. It’s a waiting game and we’re all waiting to see what will happen.
“People have lots of memories for it, as its one of the only buildings left in Lower Broughton from the demolition carried out in the early 70’s and early 80’s.
“We’ll contact the new owners for what they want and what their ideas are and see if we can support them in bringing the theatre back”
The theatre was originally built as an opera house with a capacity of 2,000 seats. which was later increased to 3,000 in 1910. It’s last use was in 2008 as a bingo hall.
The theatre has an awareness fundraiser which will have an exhibition from local artists, on December 3.
The Theatres Trust described Salford Victoria is an ‘important heritage building’, which ‘has the potential to be returned to community use.’
“We share the aims of the SVTT in creating a sustainable future for the building and hope to work with any new owner to ensure that any plans for the building respect its architectural significance and importance for the community,” they said.
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