THE final curtain will fall on Weymouth's seafront theatre as part of revolutionary plans to transform the pavilion peninsula.

The 'extremely tired' venue will be bulldozed to make way for a brand new entertainment complex seating at least 1,000 people, if bids to overhaul the complex get the green light.

A new theatre is a central part of the Weymouth and Portland Borough Council's brief to bidders. Other possible new features include a new marina, casino, five-star hotel and restaurants and bars to encourage a new caf culture in the resort.

Eight firms have thrown their hats into the ring to be chosen as the borough council's preferred partner for radical redevelopment of the pleasure pier and surrounding area.

But only four expressions of interest have made it onto a shortlist.

Now representatives - including hotelier George Afedakis, who runs the Acropolis Hotel in Weymouth - will get the chance to address councillors and give presentations at a special meeting to be held next week.

Representatives of Crest Nicholson (South West) Ltd, Giant GR Limited, Howard Holdings and Urban Catalyst Carillion LLP have all vowed to build a new theatre and breathe new life into the prime site overlooking the resort's bay and harbour.

They believe their plans will create hundreds of jobs and attract wealthy tourists to the multi-million pound scheme, which could start to take shape within two years.

The council's director of environmental services Richard Burgess said in his report to councillors: "Overall we are pleased with the range of expressions received, both in terms of the reputations of some of the developers interested and of the professional teams involved."

He added that some expressions of interest for use of part of the area were received, but discarded because they did not meet the strict criteria.

Prospective developers were asked to come up with a replacement theatre and leisure facilities, a new tourist information and world heritage coastcentre, replacement ferry terminal on a smaller site and new car parking.