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The Tropicana

Experienced venue operator opportunity

North Somerset Council is looking for an experienced venue operator to lease the Tropicana in Weston-super-Mare under a concession contract for at least 20 years following major refurbishment. More information can be found in our news release Operator sought for Weston “iconic” entertainment venue.

To allow construction and refurbishment work to take place we need to temporarily close the Tropicana. 

While the venue is now closed, the Bay Café and the Makers Market concessions at the front of the promenade building will remain open until after the Easter school holidays.

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The Tropicana is an iconic building on Weston-super-Mare’s seafront. 

This unique entertainment venue has played host to notable events and celebrities since it opened in 1937. 

Notable performers and events include

  • Hollywood greats such as Laurel and Hardy and Diana Dors
  • internationally-renowned street artist Banksy and his 2015 ‘Dismaland – Bemusement Park’
  • SEE MONSTER art installation 

Once an outdoor pool, the space now offers dynamic and flexible indoor and outdoor events space suitable for a diverse range of art forms. 

Plans for improvement

 We want to regenerate the Tropicana to 

  • provide purpose built indoor and outdoor entertainment spaces
  • increase capacity
  • elevate its status as a nationally significant multi-use entertainment venue. 

Work is currently scheduled to finish by March 2026. 

While the proposals include some restoration of the existing building on the promenade, the focus of the new Tropicana design is to create a brand-new building for events within the existing internal space. 

New operator

As well as the regeneration and refurbishment work, we are also currently working to identify and appoint a new operator for the site. As part of running the Tropicana with a long-term lease, the operator will plan and manage the programme of events. 

It is hoped that a new operator would be appointed to fit out and reopen the Tropicana shortly after work completes in 2026. 

Consultation and engagement

The Tropicana is a landmark with a rich history, key to local heritage and identity. Local people have taken part in a number of consultation and engagement projects along the way. This work has led to the current proposals for the future of the Tropicana.

Drop in events

More than 250 people attended the two drop-in events held in September 2025. Those who attended were able to speak directly to our project team and councillors to find out more about the project and proposals.

A questionnaire available to those who attended was completed by more than 120 people. 

The feedback from the questionnaires was collated and helped the architects to develop their proposed designs for the site. 

Planning application

A planning application was submitted in January 2025.  People can find out more about the proposals, including detailed drawings, on our planning portal

The planning application reference is 24/P/2691/R3. 

People are encouraged to read and comment on the planning application.

Share your memories

Local artist Karen Barry has been commissioned to work with the local community on a creative research project.

The project aims to provide new opportunities for everyone to get involved, including the creation of a public archive – a programme where people can share their experiences, memories, stories, anecdotes and unseen photographs from the different lives of the Tropicana. 

These will be recorded, presented in an accessible format and preserved within the Know Your Place North Somerset free online community archive.

If you have any memories, anecdotes or photographs you’d like to share, please contact Karen via email. 

Tropicana memories project

Thanks to our funder

This project has been made possible thanks to the council’s successful bid for £20 million from the UK government. 

This is part of North Somerset Council’s ambitious placemaking vision for Weston.