An iconic 120 year-old building that has stood the test of time could become four flats under new plans for the former theatre in Chatham High Street. The foyer area of the former Theatre Royal venue was home to celebrity chef Enzo Oliveri's Turkish restaurant Pasha Meze, until it closed down earlier this year due to a "lack of success". However, an application was submitted last week seeking approval for plans to "remove the restaurant area" and "convert all floors [of the building] into four flats". WD Evans Building Services, acting on behalf of the applicant, has stated that all listed features of the former theatre will be retained, including an original staircase. No changes are proposed to the external facade of the building either. Only three parking bays will be provided to the rear of the building for all flats except one, and no spaces will be available to visitors either as it was deemed "not necessary" due to its "town centre location" within close vicinity of services and public transport. Built in 1899, the theatre in Chatham High Street next to the Spoons restaurant was one of the first to use electric lights and had a capacity of 3,000 seats in its auditorium, playing host to some of the biggest names in showbiz at the time, including Charlie Chaplin and Gracie Fields. However, the Theatre Royal was subject to at least three major fires during its lifetime and eventually the curtains fell for the final time in 1955 amid growing competition from the age of the television. Throughout the 1980s, a local campaign gained momentum to restore the former theatre back to its former glory, but costs rose to at least £20 million by 2002 and was, in turn, abandoned. The disused building fell into such a dangerous state of disrepair that the 3,000-seat auditorium was demolished in April 2009 - with just the facade and lobby area retained, which stand to this very day. On the site of the now-demolished auditorium stands a modern block housing 26 affordable apartments built in early 2015 by contractor Jenner Group for local housing association, mhs homes.
The remainder of the theatre has been extensively refurbished since 2012 and it was proposed to become an 'entertainment complex', complete with a bar, restaurant and cafe. Although this did not succeed, it did see the opening of the Turkish restaurant Pasha Meze, until it closed this year due to a lack of success. To view the original plans or to make any comments, please visit this page on Medway Council's Planning Portal website. Comments are closed.
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August 2023
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