Proposals to transform one of Exeter’s most recognisable historic buildings into a permanent circus venue have been submitted to the local planning authority. The application seeks to convert the Grade II* listed Sidwell Street Methodist Church into The Circus — a mixed-use facility combining performances, live entertainment, education, a museum and community activities while maintaining the building’s role as a place of worship.
What the scheme would deliver
Behind the plans is Paulos Circus, a family-run company whose submitted documents state a lineage extending back to 1816. The Darnell family, credited with operating the circus across six generations, envisage establishing the first permanent circus home in the South of England. The application notes existing permanent circus buildings in Blackpool and Great Yarmouth, but none in the south.
- Venue use: circus performances and live entertainment
- Education: teaching traditional circus arts
- Community: museum, outreach and continued worship provision
According to the planning documents, the family has campaigned to have circus recognised on UNESCO’s inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage and took inventive approaches during the pandemic, including launching a drive-in circus. They also made community donations, described in the application as more than 350 tickets gifted in 2025 to charities, schools and community groups to increase accessibility.
Heritage bodies and listed‑building concerns
Historic England’s response to the application is recorded in the submission and offers early encouragement for the scheme. The body described the proposal as "a positive new use" for the church and welcomed the largely temporary and reversible nature of the planned alterations — an important point when dealing with a Grade II* structure where permanence of change is scrutinised.
"a positive new use"
The application emphasises an intent to avoid fundamental alteration of the church’s architectural character. That assurance will be central to the planning assessment, as councillors, conservation officers and neighbours consider whether the building can accommodate rigging, audience seating and the ancillary spaces required for training and a museum while protecting historic fabric.
Local impact and next steps
If approved, the scheme would create a cultural facility with a draw beyond Exeter, potentially boosting footfall into the city centre and creating a new base for circus training and heritage interpretation in the region. It also raises practical questions about programming alongside worship, noise and event management in a central thoroughfare, and how the site would be staffed and funded on a year-round basis.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Building | Sidwell Street Methodist Church (Grade II*) |
| Applicant | Paulos Circus / Darnell family |
| Historic links | Family history claimed from 1816; six generations |
The application will now be considered by the local planning authority, which will take into account heritage advice, statutory consultees and community responses. For residents and regular users of the church, the coming weeks and consultation period will be an opportunity to query details on access, worship continuity and the operational model.
Whatever the outcome, the proposal has already sparked a conversation about new uses for historic buildings in Exeter and how cultural entrepreneurs might adapt heritage assets to sustain both community activity and long-term preservation.
