Festival Venues

Buxton Venues

Buxton Opera House (901 seats) is our main venue. It is an exquisitely beautiful Edwardian theatre and one of the country’s finest examples of Frank Matcham theatre design. The theatre was lovingly restored to its former glory in 2001.

We will be using several venues around the town during the Festival

Pavilion Arts Centre The Pavilion Arts Centre is our second theatre (next door to the Opera House), and opened in September 2010. It is housed in what was formerly the Paxton Suite of the Pavilion Gardens complex behind the Opera House. UNIFest, the Festival Youth Production and other matinees and concerts will be staged here.

The Old Club House (next door to the Opera House) The Old Club House is a bar and restaurant, now under new management and undergoing a refurbishment. The morning fringe talks will take place in the function room on the first floor and you can be sure of a warm welcome and freshly brewed coffee!

The Pavilion Gardens The Pavilion Gardens is a Grade II listed historic venue which superbly shows off the Victorian splendour of Buxton. During the day, the building offers a shop, restaurant and bar. Outside is the delightful promenade and bandstand and 23 acres of gardens to explore with a boating lake, miniature train and fountains.

Every evening the Festival has exclusive use of the restaurant area for the Festival Club and cabaret after the show in the Opera House. There is a bar and suppers will also be available.

St John’s Church St John’s Church, across the road from the Opera House, will be the venue for the Festival Sunday Service on Sunday morning, 6 August.