Exclusive:EXCLUSIVE: Eye-watering £8.24m in taxes owed to HMRC by Titchfield Festival Theatre after going bust

Millions of pounds in taxes is owned by a theatre which went bust after being at the centre of court battles over planning consent, it has been revealed.

Titchfield Festival Theatre, in St Margaret’s Lane, plunged into administration on May 8, 2026 following a prolonged period of financial difficulty, with the trustees exhausting all options to save it and keep it running.

And now administration documents have now revealed the theatre owes £8.24 million to HMRC, with a further £368,931 outstanding to unsecured creditors, totalling more than £8.6 million of debt. It has also not filed its accounts since 2022, Companies House records show.

The theatre, which was at the centre of continued disputes over the construction of the 450-seat Arden Theatre without planning permission in May 2023, has multiple assets, including the Great Barn and the venues at the St Margaret's Lane site, which are likely to be sold.

James Prior, joint administrator of Titchfield Festival Theatre Trust Ltd and director at FRP, said: “Titchfield Festival Theatre has been a valued part of the local community for many years, and we recognise its closure has been disappointing for theatre goers, staff and everyone that supports the charity.

“Our focus through the administration process is on achieving the best possible outcome for creditors and stakeholders. The administration remains at an early stage, and we will share further updates as and when we are able to do so.”

As part of the administration process, a spokesperson for the joint administrators said they are continuing to review the charity’s financial position consider all available options to maximise returns for creditors, including the sale of the theatre premises. Creditors will be kept informed of any material developments as the process progresses.

An HMRC spokesperson said: “We take a supportive approach to dealing with customers who have tax debts and do everything we can to help those who engage with us to get out of debt, such as offering instalment plans.”

Meanwhile The Charity Commission is continuing with its inquiry into the registered charity. As previously reported by The News it began an investigation on November 27, 2025 after a complaint was initially raised in May 2024.

The investigation will examine the trustees’ compliance with statutory accounting, financial management, management of potential conflicts of interest in relation to related party transactions, unauthorised private benefit to the trustees or connected parties, and the trustees’ oversight and management of the charity’s relationships with connected entities.

As previously reported by The News, a number of community groups were displaced after the theatre’s sudden closure, following a lengthy and expensive court battle over whether The Arden Theatre required planning permission.

Fareham Borough Council issued an enforcement notice over the building, but TFT argued that permission was not needed.

In a message sent to theatre members in may, which has been seen by The News, chairman Christopher Milburn said the theatre, which was established in 2001, was left in an ‘unviable financial position’ forcing the decision to close.

“With huge regret I have to announce that due to our unviable financial position we have ceased trading,” it said. “This means there will be no further shows at TFT or The Barn. All rehearsals are cancelled.

“I am sorry that we have had to take this decision but sadly there was no option.”

Fareham Borough Council was approached but it declined to comment.