Sevenoaks Town Council is proposing to acquire the freehold of the Stag Theatre and Cinema, as a prudent means of securing this important community asset for current and future generations. To make the purchase possible, the Town Council is seeking to raise £100,000 in community donations towards the cost, and is calling on residents, businesses and Stag supporters to contribute to help safeguard the venue’s future.
Sevenoaks Town Council is asking anyone interested in pledging a community donation to support the freehold purchase of the Stag to complete the pledge form, available online at www.surveymonkey.com/r/stagfreeholdpledge and at the Sevenoaks Town Council office, by 1 October 2026
The Stag is a valued community venue that supports the cultural life and local economy of Sevenoaks, as well as providing a home for the youth café. Freehold ownership would offer permanent security, remove exposure to future landlord decisions and provide the confidence needed to attract major, long-term investment to upgrade the venue and for the wider town. The Town Council’s Feasibility Study Summary, commissioned in 2025, explores potential redevelopment plans for the Stag.
The Town Council currently has a lease for the Stag but wants to take over the freehold from Sevenoaks District Council through a Community Asset Transfer, ahead of Local Government Reorganisation and the abolishment of the District Council, and to enable long-term major investment in the future.
Sevenoaks District Council is choosing to charge £650,000 for the freehold of the Stag. In order to purchase the freehold, the Town Council is proposing to cover the £650,000 price by combining a Public Works Loan (£350,000), some of the Town Council’s capital reserves (£200,000), alongside a need for community donations with a target of £100,000.
In order to avoid raising the local council tax (precept) to cover the repayments for the Public Work Loan, the Town Council would stop providing the Stag with an annual grant of £27,000 and instead use this money for the loan repayments.
Community donations are an essential part of making the freehold purchase possible. Every donation will help protect the Stag as an important cultural asset in Sevenoaks and ensure it remains a thriving community venue for generations to come.
The local community has previously demonstrated strong support for the Stag’s Community Asset Transfer to the Town Council, both through a public survey and a petition. Of the 30 community assets considered in the survey, the transfer of the Stag was voted the highest priority, with 395 respondents in favour and 29 against. This support was further demonstrated by a petition that acquired more than 7,700 signatures.
Leader of Sevenoaks Town Council, Cllr Claire Shea, commented, “The Town Council remains firmly of the view that the public should not be charged for the transfer of a public asset between local authorities, and we know that there is no requirement for there to be any charge. But, whilst Sevenoaks District Council insists that it will charge a commercial price, we must now act prudently and consider the long-term interests of the town. Securing the freehold should protect the Stag, support future investment and give this valued venue greater certainty for generations to come.”
Chief Executive of the Stag, Tony McEwen said, “I am overjoyed at the Town Council’s decision to proceed with the purchase of the freehold. We cannot view this victory in a vacuum, of course, as the path ahead will be difficult. I have confidence in the people of the Sevenoaks community and beyond that we can all come together for the upcoming fundraising effort to be able to secure the Stag Theatre for future generations.”
A 30-year lease, another option proposed by Sevenoaks District Council, was considered seriously by Town Councillors. This option would have allowed the current management to continue and permit some minor improvements. But, potential rent reviews, break clauses and no automatic right of renewal of the lease would remove the long-term certainty of ownership and make it harder to secure significant investment. A third option, to let the Stag transfer to the new Unitary Authority, was considered by Town Councillors to be the most unpredictable, with the least security for the town.
Sevenoaks Town Council has taken a constructive and measured approach throughout this Community Asset Transfer process. Following repeated requests for dialogue, negotiations and formal mediation, all of which were refused, the Town Council obtained specialist legal advice on its options. That Kings Counsel (KC) advice confirmed that there were legal arguments to pursue, however these needed to be balanced against substantial costs and the predicted time frame of Local Government Reorganisation. Although there was confidence in the legal case it is also known that Sevenoaks District Council can still legally choose to charge (or not) for the freehold of the Stag. The Town Council therefore carefully balanced its duty to challenge a decision it considers unfair to residents with its responsibility to protect public funds and secure the best practical, long-term outcome for the Sevenoaks community and wider district.
If anyone would like more information about the Town Council’s fundraising appeal, please contact Sevenoaks Town Council at [email protected]
