Future of Melton Theatre site under threat AGAIN as public consultation begins

The future of Melton Theatre and the site its located on are again under threat after a public consultation has been opened to try and find investors or owners.

A public consultation was launched this afternoon (Friday) by the new owners, Loughborough College Group, following a merger of them and SMB College Group earlier this year.

Site consultation is now open and they are interested to hear from people who would like to buy the Theatre business and the buildings (college, theatre and library) and are also open to hearing proposals for public, private or community investment in the site.

A public consultation event will be held at Melton Theatre on Tuesday 14th October between 4pm and 6pm.

Melton Theatre is valued by the local community. The Theatre is owned and operated as part of Loughborough College Group, and was formally known as Melton College, and then SMB College Group.

A public consultation on the site began on Friday afternoon. Photo; NEMM File Photo.

The consultation documents say that although the Theatre itself is well-used with a thriving Performing Arts provision, it is clear that Melton Theatre is not economically viable in its current form. This is taking into account all of the overheads and site running costs of the facility. The building, which also includes Melton Library and unused teaching spaces, has multi-million pound backlog maintenance costs

Previous planned grant-funded renovations and upgrading fell through due to the financial diculties faced by SMB College Group. These financial issues were caused in part by

continuing to run provision that was no longer viable, and continued involvement in business that is not part of the core functions of a further education college – such as running a public theatre or being the landlord of a community facility.

Loughborough College Group say they are yet to receive a viable o€ffer to support the Melton Campus, therefore they now need to find a sustainable solution that meets the needs of students, the local community, theatre users, and Loughborough College Group itself.

This consultation does not include the Samworth Brothers Craft & Innovation Centre, or the operation of the Melton Mowbray Library. Loughborough College Group say they are committed to protecting the teaching of all current students. They also state they they are committed to protecting existing bookings at the theatre for the 2025/26 year.

The current options for the site are; relocation If there is no viable proposal for the site which retains the Theatre in its current location, the College would consider viable proposals to take on the theatre business at a different location and would then sell the wider site with the Library continuing in occupation.

Leasing the site for Performing Arts Teaching if the theatre continues in its current location or elsewhere, the College would consider leasing back space for Performing Arts teaching, subject to the condition of the building. Future of the Teaching Provision If a viable option is not put forward, the College would propose to close the Performing Arts provision in December 2026 at this campus For any existing students at that point, the College would put in place alternative arrangements to continue their teaching elsewhere.

Loughborough College Group invites proposals or other responses to the consultation by Friday 31st October 2025 - 4pm by email to: strongertogether@loucoll.ac.uk or by visiting the web page: www.loucoll.ac.uk/melton-theatre-consultation