Live Nation, the global entertainment company behind major UK music festivals such as Reading, Leeds, Isle of Wight, and Download, as well as the O2 Academy venues and Ticketmaster, has secured a 25-year lease to transform the abandoned Tropicana lido in Weston-super-Mare into a year-round event space with a capacity of up to 10,000.
The Tropicana, once a shimmering art deco lido that attracted thousands of visitors to bathe in the Somerset sun after its opening in 1937, fell into decline with the rise of cheap air travel and Mediterranean holidays. It closed in 2000 and remained a hollowed-out shell for 15 years, symbolising the town's struggles.
On Tuesday, North Somerset councillors voted to offer the lease to Live Nation, hoping that global stars performing at the venue will contribute to a much-needed revival. Alongside upgrades to the nearly 100-year-old marine lake and renovations to the Grade II* listed Birnbeck Pier, the project aims to reverse the town's decline.
Despite perceptions of affluence, Weston-super-Mare faces significant challenges. Five areas rank among the most deprived 5% in England, with high rates of long-term health conditions and poor-quality Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). Experts describe this as "coastal excess"—a unique burden of health and economic struggle.
Mike Bell, leader of North Somerset council, said: "We have definitely been stuck in a little bit of a cycle of decline, and you see it in our high street, where businesses struggle. What we needed is some catalytic investment that was going to increase numbers. Build it and people will come. That, in turn, will help to support the economy and encourage growth."
The Tropicana is no stranger to the spotlight. In 2015, artist Banksy transformed the derelict site into Dismaland, a "bemusement park" that reportedly gave the local economy a £20 million boost. While Dismaland used the venue's decay as a prop, the new proposal seeks a permanent, sustainable future with ambitions to host the country's biggest pop stars alongside a community space within the original 1930s facade.
The blueprint for this revival draws comparisons with Dreamland in Margate, where Live Nation's intervention turned a failing vintage theme park into a thriving music and cultural hub. Eddie Kemsley, senior vice-president at Live Nation, said: "We developed a live music programme at Dreamland in Margate which really put it back on the map. Over the last 10 years, we have seen more hotels and restaurants open, we have seen a real night-time economy. I feel that is a business we can look to and ask: how can we use some of that here?"
Local residents welcome the plans. Rose Swann, 71, said: "We really need something like this in this town, most definitely, because all seaside towns are fading. This is the help we need to bring people here. It is pretty bad; we need upgrading. We are slowly declining. We need to boost the economy here." Adele Stitch, 46, principal of the Adele Stitch School of Dance, added: "I was walking past today, and I kind of looked in and thought, what a shame I really missed it. If they are bringing big artists, it will bring lots of people; it is good for Weston. It is such an iconic place."
Bell described Weston as a "growing, vibrant, increasingly youthful city by the sea" with a population heading toward six figures. The goal is to attract not just tourists but high-end hotel investment. "Our ambition now is to try and make this into a sustainable, exciting live event space that will survive into the future," he said. "I want to see Olivia Dean here. I want to see Dua Lipa. Let us get some of these big stars here. We have just talked about a Eurovision bid, who knows."
