North Somerset Council has voted to lease the derelict Tropicana lido in Weston-super-Mare to entertainment giant Live Nation, which plans to transform the site into a year-round events venue with a capacity of up to 10,000. The 25-year lease aims to reverse decades of decline for the art deco lido, which closed in 2000 and has remained vacant since.
Live Nation, the company behind major UK festivals including Reading, Leeds, and Download, will also oversee upgrades to the nearby marine lake and renovations to the Grade II* listed Birnbeck Pier. Council leader Mike Bell described the deal as a 'catalytic investment' that could boost the local economy and attract high-end hotel development.
The Tropicana revival draws inspiration from Dreamland in Margate, where Live Nation transformed 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 in Margate which really put it back on the map. I feel that’s a business we can look to and ask: how can we use some of that here?'
Weston-super-Mare faces significant challenges, with five areas ranking among the most deprived 5% in England. Residents have welcomed 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.'
The Tropicana previously gained attention in 2015 when Banksy turned it into Dismaland, a 'bemusement park' that gave the local economy a £20m boost. The new proposal aims for a permanent, sustainable future, preserving the original 1930s facade while hosting major pop stars and community events.
