Nuffield Southampton Theatres to close permanently with 86 job losses after failing to secure a buyer

Nuffield Southampton Theatres went into administration in May after facing financial difficulties due to the coronavirus outbreak but it was announced this afternoon that efforts to find a suitable buyer had failed.

All 86 staff members were made redundant.

Greg Palfrey and Steve Adshead, from Smith and Williamson in Southampton, were appointed joint administrators of NST in May and more than 30 applications of interest were received and whittled down to four potential buyers but they were unable to satisfy stakeholders.

Joint administrator Greg Palfrey, national head of restructuring and recovery at Smith & Williamson, said: ‘This is a sad day for the theatre industry in the UK, bringing the final curtain down on nearly 60 years of history of NST as a venerable performing arts institution in Southampton.

‘Regrettably, we have no choice but to make all 86 staff redundant, bar a handful retained in the short term to help with us with the administration, as NST can no longer be sold as a going concern. Our thoughts are very much with employees and their families, as well as freelance artists and theatre makers.

‘As administrators we worked with NST’s key stakeholders - Southampton City Council, Arts Council England and University of Southampton - to find the best possible outcome.

‘The four shortlisted applications were serious about buying NST but were unable to satisfy the stakeholders’ criteria for a future operator of Studio 144, which was home to NST City at Southampton’s Cultural Quarter.’

In a joint statement, Southampton City Council, Arts Council England and University of Southampton said: ‘Having carefully considered the applications we received against the parameters agreed in our shared criteria for a future operator for Studio 144, we concluded that none demonstrated the level of sector and local knowledge, business sustainability or strategic experience required to deliver a resilient and collaborative model for the communities of Southampton, and all contained a significant level of risk.

‘Therefore, we have unfortunately not been able to progress discussions with any of the parties. We continue to work together as stakeholders on an alternative, sustainable resolution that builds on the city’s cultural ambitions and benefits its communities.’