Glasgow's iconic Pavilion Theatre up for sale with '£3.9m price tag'

An iconic 118-year-old theatre in Glasgow has been put up for sale with a reported multi-million-pound price tag.

Owners of the Pavilion Theatre, located on the city’s Renfield Street, have entered into talks with the Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG)

The general manager of the venue Iain Gordon took to social media to call the move “a shock”.

Having managed the theatre for 44 years, Mr Gordon said that while he had previously put in a letter of intent for a management buyout, he believed it had been “refused and ignored” by the current owners.

Mr Gordon clarified that while he was not permitted to say anything more regarding the sale due to restrictions put on him, he believed that ATG would be successful in its bid – leading to a “different future for the good old lady of Renfield Street”.

ATG is a major international theatre organisation based in the UK, with control over 58 of the world’s “most iconic venues” including the Playhouse in London’s West End and The Lyric Theatre on New York’s Broadway.

The Herald reported that, for £3.9m, a new buyer will acquire the Grade 1-listed 1,400 seat theatre, which has been fully refurbished with a Louis XV interior design.

Closer to home, ATG also runs Glasgow’s King’s Theatre and Theatre Royal, as well as Edinburgh’s Playhouse.

In his statement, Mr Gordon said: “The shows will continue under my management team until at least the end of January 2023, so please keep booking shows and for the panto as I personally would love to go out on a high and will ensure a fun filled family panto that you won’t get anywhere else in Glasgow.

“If I was a footballer, this would be my testimonial game, so please let it be the best run ever.

“It’s been an adventure over the past 44 years and I think we have one of the best, cleanest, friendliest hard working staff, and affordable theatres in Glasgow, but most of all a dedicated audience who return time after time for a great Pavilion Night Out!

“I thank you all for the memories and hope to see you all at the rest of the shows scheduled for 2022 and the Magical Adventures of Aladdin.”

Pavilion Theatre management and Ambassador Theatre Group have been contacted for comment.