Isle of Bute Art Deco pavilion set for £3m revamp

AN Art Deco pavilion on an island is to be transformed into a cultural centre with the help of a £3.33 million lottery boost.

Rothesay Pavilion on the Isle of Bute was a popular visitor attraction in the 1950s and 60s and is still used by more than 40 local community groups.

As part of the transformation the main auditorium will be upgraded and a second performance venue created as a dedicated space for young people, while permanent and temporary display galleries will accommodate a changing programme of exhibitions.

A bistro, bars, a shop and box office are also part of the design, along with a new multi-purpose rooftop space.

Colin McLean, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) in Scotland, which is providing the £3.33 million grant, said: “This wonderful pavilion is evocative of Rothesay’s heyday as a thriving tourist resort.

“Its resurgence as a cultural venue for the local community and visitors will not only save an important piece of the Bute’s heritage but will have a positive impact on the regeneration of this town.

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“HLF is delighted to help put Rothesay Pavilion back at the heart of island life and community pride.”

The A-listed pavilion is due to close in autumn 2015 with construction work expected to start in January 2016.

It is expected to reopen in the summer of 2017.

The pavilion was designed by JA Carrick and was opened in 1938 to serve the visitor economy and local population.

Its restoration is expected to be a catalyst for the wider regeneration of the town and of the island, which lies in the Firth of Clyde.