Horncastle’s popular Lion Theatre looks set to continue to thrive amid calls for it to be added to a list of ‘protected’ buildings.

The Theatre – one of the town’s most successful organisations – is based at the Red Lion complex in the High Street.

However, fears about its future were raised earlier this year when the Red Lion public house was shut and put on the market.

The Theatre has continued to thrive and will stage its latest production The Ladykillers, starting tomorrow (Wednesday).

Now, Horncastle Town Council has backed calls for the theatre building – adjacent to the pub – to be included on East Lindsey District Council’s Asset of Community Value list.

Essentially, the list means owners of the building cannot sell it – without giving the theatre company first refusal to buy it.

Under the terms of the List, it is understood the theatre company would have six months to raise the funds.

It’s also thought the valuation would be an independently valued ‘market price’ at the time of the sale.

Town mayor Sandra Campbell-Wardman said she thought the list was a “tremendous idea.”

She described the theatre as an outstanding asset for the town.

Councillors were told ELDC had already identified the theatre building as meeting all the requirements for inclusion.

Coun Campbell-Wardman added: “It ticks all the right boxes. We’ve got to support this.”

Councillors did raise concerns about what would happen if the pub was sold.

However, Coun Fiona Martin assured the meeting regulations meant the theatre building would be treated as a separate entity.