The cost of the ambitious vision to restore a historic music venue and bring it back into use could be more than double previous estimates.

After years of repairs failing to take place at Margate’s Winter Gardens, new predictions suggest refurbishment of the Grade II-listed building could cost as much as £13 million.

Quotes acquired three years ago suggested that figure would be as much as £6m - including £2.5m for immediate structural, building, mechanical and electrical works with a further £3.5m over the next decade.

However, after announcing a new preferred partner to take over the management of the much-loved attraction, Thanet District Council (TDC) has revealed the extent of the works required to bring it back up to scratch.

The structure, built into the clifftop in Margate in 1911, has hosted The Beatles, Madness and Blur to name just a few top acts during its illustrious past.

It closed in 2022, having been previously managed and operated by Your Leisure Kent on the council’s behalf.

But surveys that year established there had been “a significant backlog of repairs and essential refurbishments” under Your Leisure’s stewardship.

The council has allocated £4m from the Margate Town Deal funding package to help plug a deficit for the restoration.

TDC’s preferred new partner - Westwood One Theatre, which is also behind the restoration of Ramsgate’s Granville Theatre - says it will match-fund this amount bringing £8m into the refurbishment pot.

But a report published ahead of the council’s scrutiny committee meeting on Tuesday, reveals that depending on the scope of the works, this cost could be £5m more than that.

At the upper limit, the cost of refurbishing the main hall could come in at about £9.3m but a recommended mid-range option states this would be about £6m, while a lower estimate is set at about £4.8m.

Further works to the Queen’s Hall and the gardens would cost another £4.2m.

This brings the total potential refurbishment, including fees, of the overall Winter Gardens to between £9m and £13.2m - with the recommended option coming in at £10.2m.

The report says: “Westwood One Theatre has put forward an innovative proposal for the Winter Gardens that will see its refurbishment and reopening, with a primary focus on entertainment and music events in the main hall.

“They plan to refurbish the Winter Gardens to operate as a presenting live music and theatre with a mix of entertainment put on by touring companies including plays, musicals, dance, live music, heritage music acts and comedy.

“It would also aim to attract a range of other types of activity including conferences, corporate events, exhibitions, weddings and parties.”

Also included in the refurbishment plans is a rooftop bar and restaurant with cafe in the daytime, four further bars, a drama school, further education vocational centre and a child daycare nursery on site.

The report adds: “As well as completing essential repairs to the building, improving energy efficiency and installing new heating and ventilation, Westwood One Theatre’s proposals for the refurbishment include creating a new accessible entrance to the building, a new rooftop bar and improvements to the gardens.

“The proposals recognise the significant heritage value of the building and the importance of sympathetic design.”

It is estimated the refurbishment and reopening project could take two years from the time the lease between Westwood One Theatre and TDC is signed.

But in prioritising works to the main hall and Queen’s Hall, it could see these parts of the building operational within 15-18 months.

An independent review commissioned by TDC into Westwood One’s business case for making the venue “financially sustainable” concluded the strategy “seems to make considerable sense and combines imagination with pragmatism”.

Next steps for the scheme before the 999-year lease can be signed have been agreed.

These include architect’s drawing up plans in partnership with engineers and conservation specialists, specifications for works set out by a surveyor.

The council is also expecting to see further detailed business plan, working with planning consultants to draw up pre-application advice for the planning applications required, partnership with a Design Review Panel and presenting the council with a formal funding plan.

Cabinet members will discuss the deal next Thursday following a meeting tomorrow of the council’s overview and scrutiny committee to run through the proposals.