The Girvan Bandstand Project
Bringing a Girvan Landmark Back to Life
A much-loved part of Girvan’s history is set to have a new future as plans progress to restore the town’s historic bandstand in Stair Park.
The Bandstand Project, led by the Adventure Centre for Education (ACE), aims to bring the long-standing community building back into use as a vibrant café, events and community space.
The bandstand has a fascinating history. Built in the early 1900s, the building originally served as a tea kiosk, providing refreshments for local people and visitors to Girvan. It also hosted seaside entertainers, including musicians and Pierrot troupes. Over the years, its use changed and it eventually became vacant and fell into disrepair.
The plans will restore as much of the historic building as possible while introducing modern facilities to give it a sustainable future. The proposed space will include an indoor and outdoor café, flexible seating and facilities for walkers and visitors, as well as opportunities for community events, cultural activities and local makers and creators.
The project has been shaped by community input, with consultation taking place throughout the development process. The plans have also attracted significant support and funding from a range of organisations, including Historic Environment Scotland, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund, Carrick Futures and the William Grant Foundation.
There has been further progress in 2026, with the development phase successfully completed and the project now having gone out to tender for contractors. Work is expected to begin in late autumn, with construction anticipated to take around 10 months, although this may vary depending on weather and other factors.
Once complete, the restored bandstand will provide a new community asset for Girvan while preserving an important part of the town’s heritage. The project is intended to create a welcoming space for residents and visitors alike, connecting the building’s original role as a place for refreshments and entertainment with a new chapter in its story.
The Bandstand Project is one of the priority projects being delivered through Girvan’s Story, the town’s wider heritage-led regeneration programme.
The community can follow the progress of the project and find out more about its plan
