Bournemouth Pavilion ballroom to get new roof

The roof was last replaced in the 1950 and has been repaired many times

Bournemouth's Pavilion ballroom is to get a new roof as part of a major restoration project.

The ballroom has had a leaky roof for some time and visitors using the facility have had to dance around strategically placed buckets.

The work, which costs £225,000, will be paid for by Bournemouth Borough Council's Pavilion repair budget and the Pavilion Dance project.

The ballroom will be closed for most of January and February.

Pavilion manager Bob Bentley said: "The public has been very good humoured about the leaks over the years - the beauty of the room rather makes up for it."

The ballroom roof was last replaced in the 1950s and has undergone regular repairs.

The Pavilion Dance project is a scheme to open a 1,249 sq m (1 494 sq yd) dance venue which will be operated by Dance South West and Bournemouth Borough Council.

It will occupy the currently vacant Ocean Room and Viking Bar beneath the ballroom and is due to open in autumn 2010.