An apology has been issued following confusion over the publication of a sale advert offering the freehold for Ramsgate’s Granville Cinema for £1.5million.
The theatre, which appeared on the website for Lovetts in Ramsgate, reopened in May this year after Westwood One Ltd, whose directors also operate Under 1 Roof Thanet in Pysons Road and Under 1 Roof Canterbury, completed the purchase of the site from Thanet council last October for £125,000 plus the council’s surveyor fees.
The company, owned by Ramsgate sisters Zahra and Parisa Tarjomani and Pyramid Martial Arts & Just Kids Parties owner Matt Milchard, then carried out renovations to bring the site back into use as a theatre with a 600 seat capacity and a foyer with bar area. Work to complete a Seaview Bar and studio space is nearing completion.
The advert appeared late Friday night last week, prompting scores of comments questioning why the property was on the market. The owners took to social media to state they were unaware of any advert, had not asked for the site to be listed by Lovetts Ramsgate or any other agent and there were no plans to sell.
Lovetts Ramsgate director Jo Hanchett, who had been out of the country when the sales advert was published, has issued a statement of apology to the theatre owners, saying her son, who works for Lovetts, was shown around by a member of the theatre owners’ family and uploaded details and photos without permission, thinking the trio were tenants rather than the legal owners.
She said: “I would like to apologise for the fact we falsely advertised your business and property for sale. We are so sorry for all the stress it has caused for you and is still causing to you and to us as well. We wish to apologise unequivocally.
“Jon and an associate were shown around the theatre after asking a family member to see the progress. In his excitement of the situation he uploaded some pictures he took during his visit to our database and created a listing without any permissions.
“Notwithstanding that, Jon’s valuation figure was unsubstantiated and incorrect. By mistake Jon then published the listing. I might add that Jon (who had never been in the Granville Theatre since you have owned it, until last week) wasn’t even aware that you were the owners, he, in his mind believed you were tenants.
“He knows now that he did not have permission of the legal owners (they being Zahra, Parisa and Matt Milchard) to even view the building let alone value and list it for sale by any parties involved.
“To reiterate, Jon, myself and Lovetts received no instruction to either value or list The Granville Theatre for sale by any parties and truly apologise for any confusion caused.
“We wish you all the best for the future and hope you continue to grow your offering which is a real asset for Ramsgate, giving us and visitors such excellent shows, the two I have seen to date were of a standard befitting the West End of London.”
The deeds for the Granville Theatre are listed under Westwood One Theatre Ltd Under 1 Roof Kids Thanet Limited, Pysons Road, Ramsgate CT12 6RL’. These companies are owned by Matt Milchard and sisters Parisa and Zahra Tarjomani.
The freehold for the building had been owned by Thanet council which took formal possession of the venue in 2021 after the impact of covid left the former Granville Theatre Ltd team – who had been running the site – with no option but to relinquish it. The venue had been shut since the start of the pandemic.
In October 2021 Thanet council invited expressions of interest from eligible community groups to become the new owners of the theatre. The site was the marketed by Miles & Barr Commercial with Westwood One being announced as the successful bidder the following year.
