Blakehay Theatre

Built in 1850, the building was Weston-super-Mare’s first Baptist church and first public building. In 1862 Hans Price, who became the town’s leading architect, was commissioned to adapt and enlarge the building. During the Second World War it was hit by incendiary bombs and only the outside walls of the church remained, after the war it was rebuilt inside the original Victorian shell. The building closed as a place of worship in 1985 and was saved from demolition and replacement with a block of flats in 1986 by the actions of Weston Civic Society.

The building was converted into a venue for amateur and professional events and public meetings and renamed ‘The Blakehay’. The name ‘Blakehay’ comes from “Black Hay”, a field that originally lay between the High Street and Wadham Street. The original 230 church seats were placed on a new raked platform and the old Baptistery turned into a stage. The old Sunday school rooms were converted into two studio space on the ground and first floors.

Weston-super-Mare Town Council then purchased the theatre in 2004. During the time that Weston-Super-Mare Town Council have owned and managed the theatre there has been extensive refurbishment with the Foyer, Toilets and Theatre Bar being refurbished in 2010. In 2017 the Town Council refurbished the old first floor Upper studio into a Studio Theatre that can also be used as two separate studio spaces and re-branded the theatre.