Amajor heritage restoration project is set to begin on the 125-year-old Brook Theatre in Chatham, with Thomas Sinden Ltd appointed to lead the transformation of the Grade II listed Renaissance-style building.

Originally constructed in 1899 as Chatham Town Hall, the building has served various civic and cultural purposes for over a century. Most recently used as a theatre and arts centre since the late 1980s, the landmark – complete with its prominent clock tower – will now undergo a multi-million-pound restoration to safeguard its long-term future as a public cultural venue.

The restoration forms part of Medway Council’s wider regeneration strategy, which places heritage, culture, and creativity at the centre of local growth plans.

Graeme Sinden, Managing Director of Thomas Sinden, said the building holds personal resonance:

“Having grown up in Medway, the Brook Theatre holds a lot of memories for me. I’ve attended concerts there over the years and even remember when it served as the council offices.

It’s a real privilege for Thomas Sinden to be leading the restoration of such a beautiful and iconic local landmark. As well as preserving its historic character, we’re upgrading the building to modern standards, improving accessibility, and installing sustainable systems that will reduce its environmental impact. We’re proud to help secure its future as a vibrant, inclusive venue for the whole community.”

Graeme Sinden

The £21 million project will include significant internal and external works:

Restoration of original historic interiors

Refurbishment of the main theatre, foyer and studio performance spaces

Upgraded rehearsal, workshop and dance studios

Enhanced dressing rooms and backstage areas

Installation of new toilets and hygiene facilities

Improved public and performer accessibility throughout the building

Integration of new digital infrastructure for contemporary performance

The building’s adaptation also includes sustainable upgrades to reduce its environmental footprint, aligned with best practice in listed building retrofit

The theatre restoration has been made possible through a combination of public funding streams. £6.5 million was secured through the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund, with additional support from the Future High Streets Fund and a £10 million contribution from Medway Council.

Thomas Sinden’s heritage portfolio includes work at St Albans Cathedral and Toynbee Hall, both of which required sensitive interventions in protected settings. Their experience in balancing heritage conservation with contemporary use made them well-suited to the Brook Theatre scheme.

Cllr Nina Gurung, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Heritage, Culture and Leisure, welcomed the appointment:

“The appointment of contractors to start work on the Brook Theatre is brilliant news.
The Brook is a fantastic venue in a wonderful historic building, which is beloved by everyone in Medway along with theatre fans who come from far and wide to watch shows here.

I’m really looking forward to watching shows again at the Brook and seeing how this vibrant centre of culture can help encourage growth in our creative sector, along with our evening and weekend economy. Once open again, The Brook will offer an inclusive and accessible destination in a central position, surrounded by new residential development and attractive new public spaces – it’s exactly what we need for Medway.”

Works are due to begin in summer 2025 and are expected to take at least 18 months, with the building set to reopen to the public in 2027.

The Brook Theatre’s revival will sit at the heart of Medway’s Chatham Creative Quarters framework, which supports culture-led regeneration across four historic areas of the town. Once complete, the project will represent a significant example of adaptive reuse, combining heritage-led design, accessibility and sustainability in one of Medway’s most recognisable civic landmarks.