First Anniversary of Purchasing the Pavilion

Bringing the Pavilion into community ownership for the first time in its 111-year history was a remarkable achievement, but it was only the beginning. Since then, we’ve been working tirelessly to restore, preserve, and prepare this historic building for future generations.

In early spring, we cleared vegetation and opened the hall for community mornings, welcoming 242 visitors eager to reminisce. Some residents in their 90s recalled watching films in the once “plush red velvet seats,” while others still remember shedding tears all the way home after seeing Tarka the Otter. In April, we received a long-awaited £35,000 grant from Selsey Town Council—originally awarded in 2017 but only accessible once the building was officially ours. This vital funding set the stage for the major restoration work ahead.

By late April, we began extensive roof repairs, culminating in a complete re-tiling and the addition of modern insulation to reduce long-term energy costs. In May, seven layers of paint were painstakingly stripped from the façade, revealing the original surface beneath. At the same time, work on the small hall behind the auditorium led us to remove old lime plaster and replace unsafe wiring, where we unexpectedly found hundreds of old keys hidden behind a stud wall—one of many intriguing discoveries this year.

July brought a touch of the Pavilion’s past back to life with the installation of replica bullseye windows, painstakingly crafted to match the originals. Through summer, we tackled brickwork and leadwork to secure the building and keep out the elements, and by late summer the scaffolding was finally removed, revealing the original 1913 cement render for the first time in decades.

In September, we partnered with students from The Academy Selsey on Pavilion: Past, Present & Future, thanks to support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The Woodger Trust. Filming is progressing well, and we can’t wait to host the film’s premiere here next summer. Autumn also saw specialised pargeters restore intricate render details, while brickwork experts replaced corroded lintels. Volunteers dismantled the stage and lifted the timber floor in the main auditorium, and the small hall’s Georgian sash windows were removed, repaired, and reinstalled. We started painting the façade with specialist mineral paint, though colder weather soon forced us to pause.

Meanwhile, December kept us busy with more major repairs. We replaced broken glazing on the northern side, fixed structural issues in the small hall, and discovered a surprising amount of debris—plus tree roots an inch thick—lurking in the walls. Amongst these revelations were two rare finds: a cinema listings poster from 1953 and a hand-painted concert party poster from December 1939. Both are now in the capable hands of The Conservators (Angelina from The Repair Shop) for restoration.

January focused on new doors for the façade entrance, along with a sturdy steel fire door and matching side entrance, helping to secure the building further. Chaplins Coffeehouse underwent electrical upgrades, including new radiators, and we used the closure as an opportunity to install a collection of vintage film posters—each depicting a movie once screened at the Pavilion. Generously sponsored by local community members, these posters will soon be accompanied by plaques detailing their original screening dates.

This year has been all about laying strong foundations—making the Pavilion safe, secure, and watertight. By the summer, we hope to host a limited number of events in the main auditorium, though our current funds will be exhausted by then. We’ll spend the autumn and winter fundraising to pick up where we left off in spring 2026.

A final note of gratitude goes out to everyone who has supported us along the way: our tireless volunteers, dedicated tradespeople, generous funding partners, and, most importantly, the local community, whose encouragement has fuelled us from day one. This has truly been a shared effort, and together, we’re ensuring the Pavilion stands ready for another century.