The Capitol Refurb Project

How long will the refurbishment take?

We closed after the final performance of Robin Hood on 4 January 2026 and will reopen in time for panto at the end of November 2026.

Why does The Capitol need refurbishment?

Whilst many kind customers compliment us on our aesthetic look and feel, there is a lot of make-up being applied over the cracks! During your average visit, you might not have noticed the leaking roofs, failing plumbing, damaged ceilings or stained carpets – and perhaps you’ve been lucky enough to avoid a torn, stained or damaged seat! Behind the scenes, most of our plant and engineering components are reaching end of life and our heating/cooling system has been repeatedly failing on us over the last year. To future-proof the venue and improve the customer experience, significant investment needs to be made at this time.

A few months in now – what progress has been made so far?

All of the required demolition and fabric works have now been carried out. The seats have been removed from the theatre and cinema screens, making way for new seating to be installed. A full repair and redecoration of the theatre auditorium has been completed, along with the installation of a new house lights system. Our end-of life boilers have been removed ready for a replacement heating and cooling system to be brought in. The ground floor toilets have been reconfigured to provide additional facilities for customers, including a Changes Places facility to empower customers with complex needs to access the venue in comfort.

What further changes can we expect to see?

The bar is being redesigned to increase speed of service and provide more seating. The Box Office is being refreshed with a new counter and further seating options in the glass atrium area. The toilets upstairs will be replaced, and customers can expect more seating and space to relax in the Gallery area.

Are you still selling tickets for Panto and 2027?

Tickets are still available to book online and we have also secured a temporary box office in Swan Walk Shopping Centre for in-person customers open Tuesday to Friday 9.30am-4.30pm. Our Box Office phone lines are open from 10am-4.30pm on 01403 750220. We will also have a stall at the Friday Lates events running in the Carfax on Friday evenings throughout June, July and August.

Will the refurbishment increase the theatre capacity?

The seating in the main auditorium is being replaced with theatre seats from Kirwin & Simpson – a leading provider of theatrical auditorium seating in the UK. There will be a modest increase in the auditorium capacity bringing us to around 420 seats. This will include additional seating for wheelchair users and customers with limited mobility, as part of our aims to enhance our offer around accessibility.

Will the cinemas be retained?

Yes- both cinema screens are getting an upgrade with new seating and an enhanced customer experience throughout. You asked for cupholders – and, we can confirm, we’re getting cupholders!

Will increase in capacity compromise seating comfort?

The width and leg room will largely stay the same but a more theatrical style seat from Kirwin & Simpson will be used. The additional capacity also comes from improved design, layout and raking. When the current layout and seats were added it was not bespoke and therefore the space wasn’t maximised to its full potential.

How much will it cost?

The approved budget for the refurbishment project is £10.2m. For more information around the planning, approvals and financials, please refer to Horsham District Council FAQs on the wider project rationale.