FINISHING touches are being carried out on the long-awaited Globe Theatre renovation, say council chiefs.

The £30m project on Stockton High Street has taken a decade to come to fruition since it was first proposed.

But council officials say contractors are applying the final touches to the restoration ready for its first bookings in June. 

Council director Richard McGuckin said the contractor was working with operator ATG as they took possession of the venue and “moved in”. 

And he also revealed what was left to do. 

“The place is looking absolutely stunning inside and out,” said Mr McGuckin. 

“Inside they’re busy with things like assembling bar furniture and fixing internal signage and art to the walls, while outside they’re finishing off the canopy trims and installing external signage and the main front doors.

“We’re repainting the road markings out the front of the building today and have removed the large road barriers so you can now get a good look at that beautiful façade. 

“The traffic restrictions will come off tonight (Thursday).”

Councillors were told in February how the scheme was “on track” to be completed in late April. 

The Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) will run the venue in a 25-year lease agreement with the council. 

Developers Jomast started work on a £4m restoration in 2011 with the council allocating £1m.

However, the scheme stalled and Stockton Council took over in 2016. 

Costs spiralled as the scale of the renovation was uncovered at the Grade II listed site. 

Problems with the roof, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lifts, plumbing, toilet layout and drainage all cropped up during the high street renovation.

Councillors agreed an extra £1.2m should be spent on the project last year in response to pandemic pressures – taking the total price tag to £27.9m before rental costs are taken into account. 

Bosses are relying on the project bringing an extra 200,000 visitors to the town centre every year when it’s finished – with the hope of giving an £18m boost to Stockton’s economy. 

But some councillors have questioned the figures in the past.

The Globe received a £774,000 boost from the National Lottery Heritage Fund earlier this year to help cover costs and maintenance in the final stage of its renovation.

Mr McGuckin said a couple of exciting “reveals” were planned in May – with the new sign to go up on the front of the building soon.

Media tours have also been pencilled in for May 20 ahead of Covid restrictions forecast to ease on May 17.