RESTORATION work on part of the Brighton Dome has been completed.

Specialist work to clean and restore the exterior of the historic Studio Theatre, part of the Grade II listed building, is complete, according to Brighton and Hove City Council.

The building, formerly known as the Pavilion Theatre, has been steam cleaned and repaired as part of the Royal Pavilion Estate Regeneration Project - a partnership between the council, Brighton Dome, Brighton Festival and the Royal Pavilion and Museums Trust.

A team from PAYE Stonework and Restoration began by cleaning the building with a super-heated pressure wash, followed by a mix of air, sand and water, a conservation method used to remove dirt without damaging brickwork.

Site manager Rob Kember said: “You would be surprised by the number of further repairs that become apparent once you’ve taken the dirt off the surface.”

Other repairs included removing non-stainless steel fixtures and fittings that had pockmarked the brickwork as they had eroded and repairing water damage from the original 86-year-old roof.

The roof is now undergoing essential repairs, with a planning application submitted to replace with a new copper roof.

A variety of mortar mixes were used during repairs to the dome, the windows and the walls, considering the theatre’s history and its prevailing winds and salt air.

The Studio Theatre was erected in 1935 as part of architect Robert Atkinson’s Art Deco refurbishment of Brighton Dome Concert Hall and Corn Exchange.

It was originally used as a supper room, with kitchens to serve functions and as extra space for conferences, public meetings and dinners.

By the late 1950s, the building had been converted to the Pavilion Theatre and hosted overflow exhibitions from the Corn Exchange, as well as smaller performances, community events and competitions.

It was eventually renamed the Studio Theatre in 2012 to reflect Brighton Dome’s arts programming.

“The Studio Theatre stands out from other buildings of its vintage for its unique features and different styles,” Rob said.

“From the crenellated style windows to the parapet that runs along the roof, it mimics the character of the Royal Pavilion and everything around it.

“I feel proud that, with our help, something that’s been here a long time could be for standing for hundreds more years to come.

“If we’ve done it well, it should blend in. Some people won’t even notice that we’ve been there.”