Tenders/Electric Theatre - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice

Electric Theatre - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice

Guildford Borough Council

Published: Sep 21, 2026

Updated: Sep 21, 2026

About This Opportunity

This is a concession contract in the construction and civil works, culture and heritage and urban development and housing sectors, with a focus on Buildings, Roads 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 construction and civil works sector. Concession contracts involve the operation or management of public assets or services, typically requiring significant financial capacity and operational expertise. This is an advance notice — the formal tender is expected to be published shortly. Interested parties can use this time to prepare documentation and identify potential partners.

Description

The Electric Theatre is an iconic and historic building in the heart of Guildford, originally built as an electricity works in 1913 and converted into a theatre in 1997. The venue is currently vacant, with Guildford Borough Council assuming full responsibility for the building and its associated holding costs. The Council has undertaken a programme of technical surveys and stakeholder engagement to establish a clear evidence base to inform the future of the asset, confirming both the significant cultural value of the venue and a strong community aspiration for its continued use as an arts and performance space. The Council intends to appoint an operator or leaseholder to run the venue on a lease or concession basis pending final classification and is undertaking preliminary market engagement to understand market capacity and appetite among cultural, community and commercial operators before finalising its procurement route and minimum requirements. This is not a call for competition and does not commit the Council to commence a procurement process.

Data provenance

This notice is sourced from UK FTS - Find a Tender Service and was originally published on September 21, 2026. Last refreshed today. Reference: 089304-2026. BidsFactory mirrors official procurement notices and links back to the source for full legal text.

About Guildford Borough Council

Guildford Borough Council has issued 28 procurement notices on BidsFactory, including 2 currently open and 10 awarded contracts. Activity concentrates in Construction & Civil Works, Urban Development & Housing, and General Supplies & Services. All notices are published for United Kingdom. Notices are distributed via UK FTS - Find a Tender Service and UK Contracts Finder. Most recent publication: September 21, 2026.

Frequently asked questions about this tender

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.

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 089304-2026 when communicating with the contracting authority.

Who is the contracting authority?

This notice was issued by Guildford 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 Construction & Civil Works sector. The classification helps bidders match the opportunity to their qualifications and registered scope of supply.