When are they ever going to clean the filthy twin towers of Ilfracombe's Landmark theatre???? I know the Theatre Trust are a charity and obviously don't have a lot of money, but there is the Tourist info centre in there too and the cafe, could they not all club together and pay for them to be regularly cleaned? Along with the council maybe? Perhaps not, I have no idea of the cost involved, but if it is ridiculously expensive then surely this should've been thought about when they built it? It looks like a pair of factory towers and is a blight on the landscape of our seafront. (Although not to the extent of the Collingwood of course, but don't get me started on that-at least work has started on there now!)

By topsyturvy65 at 09:59 on 28/11/11

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I must admit I do find the landmark theatre an eyesore and find it a shame they built such a horrible building in an area of such beauty.Not everyones opinion obviously!
However I do agree it should be cleaned and I think they could do with making better use of it, a few more things for people to see, do and spend their money on in the summer and maybe classes for us locals in the winter.

By Helebay at 21:47 on 18/03/12
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Rather than clean them they could paint them. A nice sunny day (ie sky, sea, beach, sun etc), that would at least make them a bit prettier than they are now. Personally I think they're as ugly as and whenever I take photos of the town I always try to make sure they don't come into shot, and when it is inevitable (ie photos of the town from the top of capstone) I think the landmark ruins my shots.

By Khaizarana at 13:36 on 19/03/12
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Good idea Khaizarana, I know the local council were giving out free paint to brighten up local businesses recently, I'm not sure why the Landmark didn't take advantage of this prime opportunity to give Madonna's bra a whitewash!

By devondaisy at 14:29 on 19/03/12
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The bricks used weren't those specified by the designer. Someone cut corners to save money. Cleaning costs are unsustainable, so the two suggestions I read were: let them blacken or paint them white. Both seemed poor options to my mind, so I never offered an opinion when the town council were seeking them.

By LanternView at 09:31 on 21/03/12
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Good choice LanternView as they are an eyesore cleaning them will make them stand out, painted bricks never look good so why waste money on a building which a lot of people don't like. Maybe the council could take more care next time such a different design is put forward for planning and think hard before they spoil such a beautiful spot for us. We could all hope for subsidence and a new design building in its place. Unfortunately as it is likely to last 50 years we will all be in our boxes!
Maybe we should be more concerned about the new builds like Weatherspoons, is this in keeping with the area or another chimney-anyone seen the design?

By Helebay at 21:51 on 21/03/12
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How did something like the landmark get approved for build anyway as it's not like anything that suits the town at all design wise...

By Khaizarana at 00:46 on 22/03/12
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I just don't know,its a real shame and I hope those responsible know how much people hate it.

By Helebay at 20:55 on 22/03/12
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The Landmark Theatre building is surely what it implies, a landmark. It is a landmark; it makes a statement. It is not twee. The architects should be commended for designing a building that screams modernity whilst blending into both the rugged natural environment and the established built environment. Actually, the salty air of coastal regions can play havoc with the built environment.

Hidden in the depths of Ilfracombe are poets of some acclaim, so please could one of them write an ode to the much-maligned Landmark Theatre building.

Thank you.

By equity2010 at 01:42 on 23/03/12
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When I first encountered Ilfracombe about 7 years ago, I thought it looked a nice place. Then I saw the Landmark and it made me think that there was a bit more going on in Ilfracombe than just being time warped town and that made me look more closely. I love the Victorian and Georgian architecture and want to see it appropriately preserved, but the Landmark makes a bold statement and I like it. I think the new Admiral Collingwood will do the same. Part of the reason these buildings work/will work is because the open sight lines prevent them form bullying adjacent buildings. In contrast the bus station site needs a development which blends seamlessly and doesn't detract from the buildings on Broad Street and Fore Street.

By LanternView at 09:23 on 23/03/12
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At last we have found people which like them. Good job we all have different opinions the world would be very boring otherwise. I like both your points of view and I will try to look at them in a different light.

By Helebay at 20:15 on 23/03/12
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topsyturvy65 and Helebay, I think you may be in a minority! As a younger person in the town I think the building is brilliant! I love the old architecture and victorian character as much as you do, but I think you need to appreciate that this is the 21st century, not the 19th!
Have you actually been inside the theatre to see what why it was built in such a shape? They use the space to it's full potential.
I quite often take the kids down there, especially during the summer when the bouncy castles are out, and it always seems to be the same old people whinging about it. Depsite their grievances they still use the cafe and toilet facilities though, they can't hate it as much as they say they do obviously!

How is Ilfracombe supposed to move forward if we are still referencing everything to the late 1900's?!!?

By FullMoonCombe at 15:06 on 07/04/12
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Haa I think you have ne completely wrong fullmooncombe,I have been in the theatre and also take my kids on the bouncy castles.I love different buildings old and new and when you look at several older buildings especially the uncared for ones ,I often think it should be replaced with a modern day building.Look at the new retirement homes an example of great design in my opinion,but you may hate them!
Its just an opinion!
I have seen many buildings like the gherkin in London,Eden,Shard of glass, Tate etc but just because you seem to think you are younger than I doesnt mean that young people can not think that a building looks more like a power station!
Age of a person should not come in to an opinion and this is slightly offensive.I am pleased you like it and use it ,I use it because I like to support our local area and my 3 kids love the bouncy castles.The design in my opinion is wrong for the area but many people would disagree.However its here for our lifetime and very likely our kids too so as highlighted above it is a good job we are all different.

By Helebay at 22:26 on 11/04/12
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