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Open56 days left · closes 10am, Friday 8 January 2027

Ashford Arts Centre Operator

Ashford Borough Council · Local authority

In brief

Ashford Borough Council is looking for suppliers for leisure and events work (South East).

The estimated value is £12,600,000 excluding VAT.

The contract runs for 15 years, starting 1 April 2027.

The buyer says it is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.

Bids close at 10am, Friday 8 January 2027.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

Can I win this?

Key dates

Bids by
10am, Friday 8 January 2027

How bids are scored

Quality 60% · Commercial Offer Score 25% · Business Case Score 10% · Legal 5%

Quality matters most. You can win without being the cheapest.

Competition

Typical: a median of 3 bids per contract for leisure and events contracts in this region (from 65 awards in the last 12 months).

Tender documents

What the notice says

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…Read the full 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.

Should I bid?

Tick what applies to you. Nothing is saved.

How to bid

  1. Read the full notice on Find a Tender, including any tender documents it links to.
  2. Register your organisation on the Central Digital Platform (through Find a Tender) if you have not already. Suppliers need to be registered to take part in procurements under the Procurement Act 2023.
  3. Submit your bid through the buyer's e-tendering portal: www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk.
  4. Make sure your bid arrives before 10am, Friday 8 January 2027. Late bids are usually rejected.

Timeline

  1. Tender notice · UK4, notice 102323-2026
  2. Tender notice · UK4, notice 102539-2026

About the buyer

Ashford Borough CouncilLast 12 months

Procurements

34

Awards

19
All tenders and awards from Ashford Borough Council

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From notice 102323-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 28 October 2026, last updated 29 October 2026. We last checked for changes on 29 October 2026.