By Ian McConnell
The Playhouse in Ayr, described as “one of the last and best-surviving buildings by architect John Fairweather”, is to be auctioned this month with a guide price of £375,000 in what is being hailed as a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity.
The property, adjacent to Ayr bus station, has been a bingo hall for the last two decades. Commercial investment property auctioneer Acuitus noted the property is on the site of the former Boswell Park roller-skating rink, which was established in 1911. This property was converted by George Green in 1914 into the 2,000-seat Boswell Park Pavilion Cinema, which was demolished after the First World War.
A new cinema with a capacity of 1,700 named the Playhouse was built for George Green in 1923 by Mr Fairweather but it was destroyed by fire. Mr Fairweather then designed the Ayr Playhouse, the current building. The venue opened on July 8, 1931 and, with 3,104 seats, was the third-largest cinema to be built in Scotland. Acuitus said the “only other cinema of this scale to survive in Scotland is Fairweather’s Edinburgh Playhouse”.
The 35,187 sq ft , B-listed property at 4 Boswell Park, which produces an annual rent of £166,498, is now occupied by Mecca Bingo, on an extended lease until 2026.
Mhairi Archibald, of Acuitus, said: “This is an extremely rare find. Fairweather’s Playhouse designs are renowned across Scotland. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own one of the last remaining buildings.”
The property currently comprises a reception area, gaming hall, and ancillary and office accommodation over the ground and first floors.
Neighbouring occupiers include Cooperative Food and The West Kirk, a JD Wetherspoon public house.
The auction is being held on June 16.
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