31/03/2026
The Stag Theatre is shocked that Sevenoaks District Council Official is considering to sell The Stag.
It is with sadness and shock that we are again having to publicise a new external threat to the survival of your local community theatre and cinema.
It appears that Sevenoaks District Council has decided to sell The Stag (as seen in its committee papers for the Finance Committee meeting to be held on 7th April 2026): “…The Council (SDC) should dispose the freehold (of The Stag) but at market value”.
The market value of The Stag could exceed £650,000 in its current form as a community asset. Neither The Stag charity nor Sevenoaks Town Council has access to funds at that level.
The recent petition for Sevenoaks District Council to transfer the freehold of The Stag to Sevenoaks Town Council at no further cost has amassed nearly 4,500 signatures, once again demonstrating the strong local support for The Stag from across the district.
If Sevenoaks Town Council paid the market value for the Stag, it would be local Sevenoaks Town ratepayers who would need to pay for this to retain their local theatre and cinema which is already owned by the public. This could result in a Precept taxation increase of over 43% next year.
The District Council’s agenda papers also state, “…The Council has received an enquiry about the asset from a commercial organisation. As such the Council will need to carefully consider how it applies a market value to the freehold community asset of the transfer of The Stag and if indeed it may need to market the disposal of the asset on the open market".
So it now appears that Sevenoaks District Council will not carry out a Community Asset Transfer and is actively considering selling The Stag, which will mean the end of The Stag as a community arts centre.
If you wish to support The Stag’s freehold being transferred as a Community Asset to Sevenoaks Town Council at no additional cost to the ratepayer, please sign the petition at www.change.org/stagfreehold. You can also write to the Leader of Sevenoaks District Council, Cllr Kevin Maskell, at [email protected]
Andrew Eyre, Chief Executive
Stag Community Arts Centre
