THE De La Warr Pavilion has announced that work has now begun to restore and reimagine the Grade I listed modernist landmark.
Launching the major transformation project, ‘An Icon For Everyone’ in partnership with Rother District Council, that will redevelop this pioneering centre for the arts, creating new learning and community spaces, refurbish the auditorium and galleries, improve accessibility, support environmental sustainability and secure the Pavilion’s purpose as a creative and cultural home for all.
This project is a key part of Transforming Heritage. Powering Community, a UK Government-funded partnership between Heart of Sidley, De La Warr Pavilion, and Rother District Council working together to create opportunities, inspiring pride of place and strengthening community life across Bexhill and Sidley.
Currently the De La Warr Pavilion in its 90th year is showing its age physically and environmentally. The building’s fabric is deteriorating and both structural and operational deficits need addressing urgently. The building has badly insulated external walls and leaking roofs, with poor levels of airtightness due to many of the metal-framed, single-glazed windows showing signs or corrosion and cracking. These issues will be resolved through this major transformation project, designed by multi prize-winning architects Haworth Tompkins in consultation with our local communities.
The first appointed contractors on site will be RTB roofing, working to improve the Pavilion’s environmental sustainability by fixing the main foyer flat roof so that it is watertight and insulated, ensuring the inside of the building is warmer and more comfortable for visitors and ready for improvements to heating and airtightness that will come with the later works. Key preparatory works will also be carried out on the auditorium roof ahead of the installation of solar photovoltaics later in the year (solar panels paid for by Rother District Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)* funding).
Other work happening this year is the restoration of the iconic De La Warr Pavilion north and south staircase glazing, where specialist heritage glazing contractors will remove each pane of glass and carefully repair the metal frames before reglazing. This work will help improve the performance and long-term resilience of the building and reduce its operational environmental impact.
Planned works this Spring also include the repair of the auditorium piano lift, after being out-of-service for the last three years, contractors Centre Stage Engineering will restore this essential piece of equipment meaning our technical team can load in band equipment from the west stage doors avoiding the need to load through the delicate glass doors at the front of the building. Staging and seating can now be stored beneath the stage and accessed easily, reducing heavy lifting and turnaround times and allowing the auditorium to better support multiple users.
De La Warr Pavilion auditorium audiences will be happy to hear that new permanent seating is currently being crafted by Audience Systems, a leading UK designer, manufacturer and installer of specialist seating. With fabric now in production by Bute Fabrics (est. 1947) on the Isle of Bute, home of our sister Pavilion in Rothesay. Supporters can donate through the Your Seat In History campaign to help fund the building project, have their name engraved on chair plaques in the auditorium and become part of the Pavilion’s story.
All areas of the Pavilion will remain open throughout 2026. Some scaffolding will be in place and certain routes through the building will be temporarily adjusted. The addition of the DLWP 90th birthday Summer Programme on the south terrace will ensure that summer 2026 is a time full of activity for the pavilion.
This project is made possible through De La Warr Pavilion’s partnership with Rother District Council and the generous support of the UK Government, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Wolfson Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, The Chalk Cliff Trust, Foyle Foundation, and Suzy Eddie Izzard.
