North Somerset Council has approved a 25-year lease to entertainment giant Live Nation to transform the abandoned Tropicana lido in Weston-super-Mare into a year-round events venue with capacity for up to 10,000 people. The decision, made on Tuesday, aims to reverse decades of decline in the seaside town.
The Tropicana, an art deco lido opened in 1937, closed in 2000 and has remained derelict since. Live Nation, which operates festivals including Reading, Leeds, Isle of Wight and Download, as well as O2 Academy venues and Ticketmaster, plans to host major pop stars alongside a community space within the original 1930s facade.
Council leader Mike Bell described the deal as a 'catalytic investment' to boost the local economy. 'We have definitely been stuck in a little bit of a cycle of decline,' he said. 'Build it and people will come. That, in turn, will help to support the economy and encourage growth.'
The revival draws comparison with Dreamland in Margate, where Live Nation turned a failing theme park into a thriving music hub. Eddie Kemsley, senior vice-president at Live Nation, said: 'We developed a live music programme at Dreamland which really put it back on the map. Over the last 10 years, we’ve seen more hotels and restaurants open, we’ve seen a real night-time economy.'
Residents welcomed the news. Rose Swann, 71, said: 'We really need something like this in this town, most definitely, because all seaside towns are fading.' Adele Stitch, 46, added: 'If they’re bringing big artists, it will bring lots of people; it’s good for Weston. It’s such an iconic place.'
The Tropicana previously gained global attention in 2015 when Banksy turned it into Dismaland, a 'bemusement park' that gave the local economy a £20m boost. The new plan aims for a permanent, sustainable future, alongside upgrades to the nearby marine lake and Birnbeck Pier.
