Project update checked: 28 July 2026. Southport’s Marine Lake Events Centre is being developed on the Promenade at the site of the former Southport Theatre and Convention Centre. It is a construction project, not yet a visitor attraction, but it is intended to become a major new home for entertainment, conferences, exhibitions and cultural events.
What is the Marine Lake Events Centre?
The plans replace the former theatre with a modern multi-purpose venue overlooking Marine Lake. Sefton Council says the completed centre will include a 1,200-seat auditorium and exhibition space, with the flexibility to host live entertainment, business events and community or cultural programmes.
The scheme is also tied to proposed improvements along the Promenade. Those plans are intended to make the route between the town centre and waterfront easier to walk or cycle, with new crossings, public spaces and access arrangements around the future venue.
What is happening on site now?
Early and enabling works have included demolition of the old complex, excavation, sheet piling beside the lake, retaining walls and civil engineering for a new access ramp from the Upper Promenade. In June 2026, Sefton Council said it expected the main construction contract to be entered into later in the summer, subject to the necessary approvals and funding discussions.
The Council’s current programme anticipates a two-year main build followed by the venue operator’s fit-out, with opening expected in the first half of 2029. Construction programmes can change, so that date should be treated as the latest official target rather than a guarantee.
What visitors should know during construction
The Promenade, Marine Lake and other parts of Southport’s waterfront remain destinations in their own right, but a major building site inevitably changes the immediate surroundings. Visitors may encounter hoardings, daytime noise, heavy-vehicle movements or temporary pedestrian and traffic arrangements.
- Follow signed walking routes and do not enter fenced construction areas.
- Allow extra time if a temporary diversion affects the most direct route.
- Check current Sefton Council updates before a visit if works near the Promenade will affect your plans.
- Remember that the public-realm proposals and the events-centre build are related but separate projects, and their timetables may differ.
Stay close to Marine Lake and the Promenade
Lakeview Apartment
Lakeview Apartment is less than 100 metres from the Marine Lake Events Centre site, making it the closest Southport Airbnb base for the waterfront and Promenade. During construction, the signed walking route may be longer than the straight-line distance because of hoardings or temporary access changes.
Avondale Apartment
Avondale Apartment is also a short walk from the Promenade, Marine Lake and town centre. It is a useful alternative for guests who want waterfront attractions within walking distance while remaining well placed for Lord Street and central Southport.
Planning a waterfront stay? Compare Lakeview Apartment and Avondale Apartment, then check your dates on the property page.
Official project sources
- Sefton Council: expected 2029 opening and June 2026 project update
- Sefton Council: contractor and construction update
- Sefton Council: Promenade proposals and access plans
Featured image: architectural visualisation of the planned Marine Lake Events Centre beside Southport Marine Lake. Image supplied by Southport Airbnb.