Former Nottinghamshire courthouse gets a makeover

A former Nottinghamshire courthouse has been given a new lease of life, opening as a Dance School.

Property adviser, DTZ acting on behalf of the Ministry of Justice sold the former Magistrates Court House in Retford to Wendy De Burnay Bastos last month, who set about converting it into a dance school and dance wear shop. Jeremy Baguley of Brown & Co acted for the purchaser.

Wendy has relocated her dance school, De Burnay’s School of Dance to the court house, located on Exchange Street near the Market Square. The former court rooms have been converted into dance and ballet studios.

The two storey period building, which comprises 3,860 sq ft of space, closed in summer 2011.

Gemma Constantinou, Senior Surveyor at DTZ, commented: “We are delighted to have sold this prominent building to Wendy for De Burnay’s School of Dance. The building has a number of attractive period features, including high ceilings, original oak doors and decorative coving which will give the new dance school a unique sense of character.”

Wendy De Burney Bastos commented: “We were so excited when we first viewed The Court House, I just felt I could plug in my stereo and start to teach and dance – the building was perfect! We spent less than two weeks transforming it into the dance school of my dreams, everyone loves it.”

Jeremy Baguley, partner at Brown & Co commented: “I am proud to have assisted Wendy in her relocation, selling her former premises and acquiring The Court House. The Court House is an iconic building in the town, ideally suited to Wendy’s operation and hopefully this move secures its long term future.”