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The council’s vision for the seafront site is to provide purpose-built indoor and outdoor entertainment spaces, increase capacity and elevate the Tropicana’s status as a nationally significant multi-use entertainment venue.
The council appointed Morgan Sindall Construction from a framework agreement. This contract instructs them to strip out and demolish the existing 1980s internal event space building in an initial phase of work. While the contractor plans to start preparation work this week, demolition is due to begin in November.
Following demolition, the following work is planned:
- repairing the main 1930s promenade building
- replacing the existing 1980s internal event space building with a brand-new structure to host indoor events for around 1,000 people
- increasing the total venue capacity to be more commercially viable
- installing sustainable and renewable energy sources, including heat pumps and solar panels, to improve energy efficiency and help tackle the climate emergency.
Construction work is due to complete by the end of 2026. The appointed venue operator would complete their fit out and reopen the Tropicana shortly afterwards.
Councillor Mike Solomon, North Somerset Council's cabinet member responsible for seafronts, and investment in the Tropicana, said: “This is an exciting step forward for the Tropicana, a much-loved and iconic destination at the heart of Weston’s seafront. This is one of our key projects – it will unlock significant inward investment opportunities to benefit not just the local economy and local residents but North Somerset and beyond.
“We continue to work hard to secure an experienced venue operator to run the Tropicana for at least 20 years. We’re unable to announce the name of the preferred operator just yet due to commercial sensitivities and legal constraints but I hope that we’ll be in a position to make this exciting announcement soon.”
People can find out more about the plans, including detailed drawings, on the council’s website. The planning application reference is 24/P/2691/R3. The application was approved in May 2025.
The Tropicana is one of several high-profile sites across Weston’s town centre and seafront set to be improved as part of a programme of work made possible thanks to North Somerset Council’s successful bid for £20m investment from the UK government. Other sites include Birnbeck Pier, Grove Park, Marine Lake and High Street shops.
The restoration of the Tropicana has been made possible thanks to an allocation of £11.94m from the overall £20m awarded to the council through the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) former Levelling Up Fund.
An additional £2.7m from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) will enable further improvements. Arts Council England delivers this fund on behalf of the DCMS.
This funding is provided specifically for this project and can’t be used by the council for any other purpose such as adult social care, children’s services or highway maintenance.
More information about the project can be found on the council’s website at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/tropicana.
