Bridgegate, Rotherham Town Centre, Rotherham

Freehold Live Events Venue Located in Rotherham, South Yorkshire
Operational With Forward Bookings In Place
Approx 12,000 SQ FT & Capacity Of 1,200
£1.8m+ Refurbishment
Ref 3215

Guide Price £2.5 Million

Location
The Empire Theatre occupies a prominent corner position at the junction of High Street, Westgate and Ship Hill in Rotherham town centre, benefitting from excellent visibility and a strong presence within the town’s leisure and evening economy. The surrounding area comprises a mix of residential accommodation, independent and national occupiers, offices and local amenities, supporting sustained daytime and evening activity.
The property is well connected, with convenient access to the A630 and the wider M1 motorway network, and is located approximately (6 miles) from Sheffield, (11 miles) from Doncaster and (10 miles) from Barnsley, providing access to a broad regional catchment across South Yorkshire.

Investment Summary
Asset: Freehold live events and venue hire business
Would Suit: Experienced leisure operators, investors, or groups seeking a scalable regional venue
Location: Rotherham Town Centre, prominent corner site
Size: Approx. 12,000 sq ft (1,115 sq m)
Capacity: Up to 1,200 (configuration dependent)
Capital Invested: In excess of £1.8 million (vendor)
Trading Status: Operational, reopened November 2025
Forecast Turnover: In excess of £2 million
Tenure: Freehold (Not Listed)
Guide Price: £2.5 million
Development Potential: Subject to the usual consents
Alternative Use Potential: Leisure or mixed-use, subject to planning
The business has been structured to operate without reliance on daytime footfall.

Description
Veritas Business Sales is pleased to bring to market the freehold Empire Theatre. A landmark live events and venue hire business occupying a prominent corner position in Rotherham town centre.
Originally opened in 1913, the building is of genuine architectural presence, featuring a Classical-style foyer frontage finished in white faience (glazed terracotta) and a large-scale auditorium arranged over three principal levels. The layout provides exceptional flexibility for live performance, ticketed events and private hire.
The current owner acquired the property in 2023 in a derelict condition and has since invested in excess of £1.8 million in an extensive restoration and upgrade programme. The principal public, trading and operational areas have been fully refurbished to a high standard, with certain ancillary rooms and storage areas remaining in a functional condition.
The venue benefits from two fully fitted bars across the ground and first floors, together with high-spec finishes throughout and modern customer and back-of-house facilities, all configured for efficient event operation. The sale includes stage, lighting and sound equipment, bar and catering equipment, and all tables, chairs and loose furniture, with the majority of fixtures and fittings approximately one year old and in excellent condition. A full asset list will be provided.

The venue reopened in November 2025 and has already secured direct promoter relationships, with ticketing operated via Skiddle and forward bookings in place for 2026. These bookings support a forecast turnover in excess of £2 million, generated through ticketed live events, venue hire and bar sales retained by the operator, providing strong income visibility and reducing trading risk.
The property offers further growth potential, including the creation of an outdoor terrace fronting Ship Hill, activation of currently under-utilised internal areas, and enhanced marketing and programming to drive increased utilisation and bookings at both a local and national level.
This offers an opportunity to acquire a restored, income-generating live events venue with early trading momentum and clear growth potential. Opportunities of this scale, condition and positioning rarely come to market, and as such an early viewing is strongly advised.
Services
We understand that all mains services are connected to the premises, including gas electricity and a three-phase electric power supply.
External
Nearby public and on-street parking available within walking distance.
The property benefits from air conditioning & heating and part UPVC double glazing.