Temporary Marble Arch theatre near Hyde Park could open until midnight under new licence plans
A temporary 500-capacity theatre beside Marble Arch could stay open until midnight every day under licensing plans being considered by Westminster City Council. The venue would be built on the grassed area beside the Marble Arch traffic island opposite the north-eastern edge of Hyde Park and is expected to remain in place until summer 2028.
Production company HH Productions Ltd, also known as Hartshorn-Hook, has already confirmed shows including Burlesque for the site while the Arts Theatre in the West End undergoes refurbishment. The company has applied for permission to open the venue to the public from 9am until 12.30am daily, with alcohol sales permitted until midnight for consumption on or off the site.
According to the application, operators currently expect the venue to open from 9am until 11.30pm Monday to Saturday and from 9am until 10.30pm on Sundays, although those hours are not final. Planning permission for the temporary theatre has already been approved by Westminster City Council. A licensing sub-committee will now decide whether the venue can operate under the proposed conditions.
In planning documents submitted to the council, the applicant said the project would deliver a “world class temporary theatre design” that would attract visitors to the Marble Arch site and strengthen the borough’s cultural offer. HH Productions has managed the 99-year-old Arts Theatre for the past 12 years. The venue closed last year for a 24-month refurbishment programme.
The application states that productions currently staged at the Arts Theatre, including Choir of Man, are expected to transfer to the new Marble Arch venue during the refurbishment period.
Several objections to the licence application have also been submitted.
The South East Bayswater Residents Association said it strongly objected to the plans because of concerns about potential nuisance in the surrounding area. In its written submission, the group said the scale of the application could affect residents living near Marble Arch and beyond the immediate area.
The Metropolitan Police has also raised concerns about several proposed licensing conditions and requested further clarification about alcohol sales and the venue’s operation as a theatre space.
The proposal adds to a growing number of temporary cultural and public event spaces being used across London, including seasonal programmes near Hyde Park and temporary performance events elsewhere in the capital. Westminster City Council licensing records contain the full application details and hearing documents.
The temporary venue is expected to host major productions during a period of continued attention on London theatre and new West End audiences. The Marble Arch site sits directly beside an area already known for large seasonal attractions and event programming near Hyde Park. Temporary public performance spaces have become increasingly visible across London through seasonal arts and live event programming.
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