For specialist contractor Wates Construction Ltd, the combination of demolition, rebuilding and restoration has been a challenge at times fraught with problems which led to delays and escalating costs.

During the past two and a half years they rose from an estimated £12million to around £20million and delays, due to unexpected problems on the difficult construction site sandwiched between South Marine Drive and the sea, put it eight months behind its scheduled completion date.

Free Press reporter Alan Brook takes a look at the Spa story from when it closed its doors after the Christmas panto back in January 2006 ...

January 2006

The curtain came down on the Christmas panto Sleeping Beauty and work began on clearing out what was wanted and not wanted and salvaging other items for the new-look Spa.

Most staff were relocated elsewhere in Bridlington, including Leisure World where Spa events transferred until work was complete.

A public auction for the trade and just the curious was the last event held. Fixtures, fittings, anything from Gaz The Gull Bridlington Beer Festival glasses to stage lighting, bar and catering equipment, went under the hammer on January 28.

A Hull restaurant owner bought more than 500 of the Royal Hall's red and chrome chairs and shipped them to a Bangladeshi school where children had nothing to sit on.

The auction made around £5,000 for the council.

February 2006

Wates Construction Ltd, one of the UK's largest specialist construction companies and which has worked on top quality refurbishment and restoration projects including St Paul's Cathedral in London, takes over the site and the bulldozers move in.

The cost of the facelift is said to be £12million and work was due to be completed 18 months later, by summer 2007.

March 2006

A portable building "city" for the workforce appears on site and controversial green hoardings hide it from view. Soon parts of the landmark look like a bombsite as walls come down and windows come out.

North Yorkshire County Council buys the old green plush seats of the Theatre to put into Whitby Pavilion.

June 2006

Problems begin to emerge on site.

Water is flooding in from an ancient spring causing delays as unexpected new drainage has to be laid.

Stripped of its floor and seating, the Spa Theatre has a lake where the stalls used to be.

A pair of ducks move in for a couple of weeks!

A public information kiosk opens in South Cliff Road giving details of plans and showing a video of computer generated graphics of work in progress, but there are doubts about the summer 2007 opening.

September 2006

More problems as the original shell is stripped down.

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