A Victorian theatre is being brought back into use as a community arts space, it has been revealed.

CyrerArts Limited, a local startup, successfully bid for the Charles Cryer Theatre and was chosen to take on the site at a Sutton Council meeting.

With experience in the construction, leisure, and entertainment industries, they intend to use it for mixed events – like music, film, and theatre – as well as TED-type talks.

CryerArts director Roger Molyneux said: “We are hugely excited to be given this opportunity. We now enter an intense period of preparation with numerous legal permissions and licenses to obtain, the building to rejuvenate, the necessary equipment to install and staff to recruit and train.

“We hope everyone will be patient for a little longer and we will update on progress very soon.”

It comes as more than 10 candidates put forward proposals for the Charles Cryer for its 25-year lease before being whittled down to five.

Feedback on the bids were given by representatives from independent charity Arts Network Sutton as well as members of the Carshalton and Clockhouse council committee.

Then CryerArts Limited were then revealed to be the chosen bidder in documents released ahead of a strategy and resources meeting before being officially confirmed.

They fought off stiff competition from Carshalton Baptist Church and Nickel Support Limited who were also in the running.

Cllr Steve Penneck, the council’s lead member for arts and culture, said: “Congratulations to CryerArts Ltd on their winning bid. I was hugely impressed by their plans and enthusiasm for once again establishing an arts venue at the heart of our community.

“I look forward to the council working in partnership with them in the coming months and years.

“I would like to acknowledge the hard work of all the bidders and thank them for their contribution in what has been a very thorough process to achieve the best outcome for the theatre’s future and for the borough.”