THE Electric Palace in Bridport is one of three finalists in the Rock the House competition after being nominated by Deep Purple lead singer Ian Gillan.

Electric Palace director Gabby Rabbitts and acting manager Jess Grimshaw will be going to the awards ceremony in the House of Commons today when they will find out if they’ve won or not.

Gabby said: “We were truly delighted with the nomination for the prestigious industry award of Best Small Live Music Venue.

“To now be one of only three UK finalists, has left us speechless. We are incredibly grateful for all the support we rece-ive and very excited about the award ceremony at the House of Com-mons today.

“We are en-ormously grateful to Ian for nominating The Electric Palace and for his words of support and encouragement.”

They are also hoping to catch a glimpse of rock legend and competition patron Alice Cooper and Prime Minister David Cameron at the event.

Ian Gillan, who lives in Lyme Regis, paid tribute to the restored cinema venue and sent his best wishes for their success.

He said: “I am delighted that The Electric Palace has been selected as a finalist in the Rock The House Competition.

“The venue has gained a wonderful reputation and its contribution to music is much appreciated by performers and audiences alike.

“May I wish the Electric Palace all the very best and I hope it goes on to win it.”

Rock the House is a Parliamentary live music and venue competition founded by MP Mike Weatherley.

Ian Gillan is a patron, along with Alice Cooper and Mark Hoppus from the punk bank Blink 182.

The competition is designed to celebrate the best of up-and-coming unsigned British artists and the live music venues that support them.

The aim of the competition is to raise the political profile of the importance of intellectual property rights, and live music, among parliamentarians.

The Palace is a Grade II-listed art décor building which was completed in 1926.

It was closed for many years and there were fears the building would be too expensive to renovate but after years of struggle, Peter Hitchin managed to re-open the venue.

The palace became a full-time live venue in 2008 and has hosted some of the top names in British comedy, ‘live’ opera performances, big bands and names including The Kills, Gruff Rhys and American hip hop musician Grandmaster Flash.

VENUE'S HISTORY

The former cinema closed without warning in March 1999 after operator Reeltime Entertainment said it found corroding steelwork on the balcony.

At the time it was owned by Trudy Byrne, the Sussex-based widow of cinema magnate Miles Byrne and there were numerous ideas of how to save the building, including the town council running it as a trust.

Behind the scenes negotiations came and went until finally it was bought by Peter Hitchin in 2002 who embarked on a long and tortuous road to get it re-opened.

He has tackled a kaleidoscope of bureaucratic red tape, listed building consents, survey controversies, planning hurdles, restoration wrangles, building regulations, grant and licence applications, to bring his vision of the cinema into focus.

It was finally re-opened in 2007.