Tenders/Ashford Arts Centre Operator

Ashford Arts Centre Operator

Ashford Borough Council

Published: Oct 28, 2026

Updated: Oct 28, 2026

About This Opportunity

This is a concession contract in the culture and heritage and urban development and housing sectors, with a focus on Hospitality and Arts. Located in United Kingdom, Europe, this opportunity is open to firms and consortiums.

Published through UK FTS - Find a Tender Service, a national government procurement portal. Public procurement tenders follow the country's national bidding regulations and may have specific eligibility and documentation requirements for concession in the culture and heritage sector. Concession contracts involve the operation or management of public assets or services, typically requiring significant financial capacity and operational expertise. Interested parties should review the full documentation on the original source before submitting their proposal.

Description

The Council seeks a suitably skilled, long-term partner to manage and operate Ashford Arts Centre (AAC) via a concession arrangement. AAC is a new community and commercial arts centre being delivered by the Council through the redevelopment of the former Ashford Odeon cinema building, in Ashford town centre. The design for AAC is currently at RIBA Stage 3, and details in respect of the scope of the AAC in the suite of procurement documents should be treated as subject to confirmation as the design develops. AAC's programme is intended to include theatre, live performance, comedy, family shows and community use, alongside a hospitality and events offer, ensuring there is something to suit a broad range of audiences within a scale appropriate to Ashford. The estimated value stated in this notice is based on detailed financial modelling completed by Blue Horizon Ventures on behalf of the Council. The model draws on the RIBA Stage 3 design for AAC, benchmark data from comparable venues, and projected commercial and community activity across the venue’s spaces, reflecting its intended role as a hybrid commercial and community performance venue. The figure represents cumulative operator income over the 25 year contract term, excluding VAT and public subsidy. It is shared to give Tenderers an indication of scale so that they can plan their interest and resources with confidence. It is not a forecast or a guarantee of future income, and it is not intended to be used as the basis for Tenderers’ own financial modelling. Tenderers are required to develop their own assumptions, drawing on their operating experience and the information in the tender pack. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/tenders/UK-UK-Ashford:-Arts-facility-operation-services./P5BBRU393F To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/respond/P5BBRU393F

Data provenance

This notice is sourced from UK FTS - Find a Tender Service and was originally published on October 28, 2026. Last refreshed today. Reference: 102323-2026. BidsFactory mirrors official procurement notices and links back to the source for full legal text.

About Ashford Borough Council

Ashford Borough Council has issued 77 procurement notices on BidsFactory, including 2 currently open and 53 awarded contracts. Activity concentrates in Construction & Civil Works, Information & Communication Technology, and Urban Development & Housing. All notices are published for United Kingdom. Notices are distributed via UK Contracts Finder and UK FTS - Find a Tender Service. Most recent publication: October 28, 2026.

Frequently asked questions about this tender

How can I submit a bid?

Visit UK FTS - Find a Tender Service to access the full notice, required documents, and submission instructions. Quote reference 102323-2026 when communicating with the contracting authority.

Who is the contracting authority?

This notice was issued by Ashford Borough Council in United Kingdom. The authority is responsible for evaluating bids, awarding the contract, and managing performance.

What type of contract is this?

This is a Concession contract in the Culture, Heritage & Tourism sector. The classification helps bidders match the opportunity to their qualifications and registered scope of supply.

Where will the contract be performed?

The contract is for delivery in United Kingdom. Foreign bidders should review local registration, taxation, and any in-country presence requirements before submitting.