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.
The Tropicana is now closed to allow construction and refurbishment work to take place.
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:
Once an outdoor pool, the space now offers dynamic and flexible indoor and outdoor events space suitable for a diverse range of art forms.
We are regenerating the Tropicana to:
Work is due to start in summer 2025 and finish by summer 2026.
Some restoration of the existing building on the promenade will take place. However, the focus of the new Tropicana design will create a brand-new building for events within the existing internal space.
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.
The operator is expected to be announced in summer 2025.
It is hoped that a new operator would be appointed to fit out and reopen the Tropicana shortly after work completes in 2026.
The planning application was approved in May 2025. People can find out more about the approved plans, including detailed drawings, on our planning portal.
The planning application reference is 24/P/2691/R3.
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.
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.