Builders are frantically putting the finishing touches to what is arguably England's most beautiful arts venue.

The De La Warr Pavilion was built in 1935 by the then mayor of Bexhill, Herbrand Sackville, the ninth Earl De La Warr.

He wanted to create a centre where people of all backgrounds would come to soak up culture, enriching their lives. Within five years the Second World War broke out and the pavilion's mission was forgotten.

Towards the end of the Nineties, the Grade-I listed building had become a financial liability and its owner, Rother District Council, was considering selling it to pub chain JD Wetherspoon.

Deputy director Emma Morris said this was the turning point that led to an £8 million renovation, funded by the National Lottery and English Heritage.

She said: "The threat of losing the pavilion galvanised local people and the arts community. It reignited interest in the pavilion and led to campaigns locally and nationally.

"Rebuilding the De La Warr is the most exciting project I have ever been involved in and the most interesting part of the building's history will start when it reopens on Saturday."

She said the pavilion would be an asset for the people of Bexhill, bringing in arts lovers from Brighton, London and the rest of Britain.

She said: "When the pavilion was first built, the plan was for it to make a success of Bexhill as a seaside resort.

"Now it has a chance to act as a catalyst for the regeneration of Bexhill and that's what I want to see."

The new pavilion includes two art galleries, one of them among the biggest on the South Coast at 4,300sqft.

There is a caf, a restaurant, a sun terrace with stunning views out to the sea, and a gift shop.

Visitors only have to pay to see performances. The galleries are free and feature work by 25 artists, including Matthew Miller and Jonathan Gilhooly of Brighton.

One exhibition space includes an 84ft row of paintings by Jo Bruton on one wall facing an 84ft row of windows with a sea view on the other.

Exhibitions assistant Helen Little said: "The theme of the exhibition is variety, which is what the pavilion is all about."

The pavilion was the first modernist building in Britain and was designed by Eric Mendelsohn and Serge Chermayeff, architects who fled anti-Semitic persecution in Germany and came to England in the early Thirties.

Initially it received a mixed response but now it is regarded as a classic.

Architect Mark Cannata, from the firm John McAslan and Partners, said he felt honoured to have worked on the restoration.

He said: "There are very few buildings like this in the world and working on it has taught me something new every day.

"The aim was to restore and repair the 1935 building and to make it suitable for use today, installing new facilities within the original fabric of the building."

Heading from the entrance into the lobby, a visitor can go straight ahead and climb the 1935 spiral staircase, which still has the original vertical light fitting running through the middle.

Upstairs, the builders have knocked down stud walls, opening up a sun terrace which offers views across the sea towards Beachy Head.

There is a new trendy bar and a restaurant which will use fresh produce grown in Sussex.

The top floor offers even more open views across the sea.

Below the terrace there is a plaza, where there will be open-air concerts and outdoor events.

The first performance, Sea Tongue, has been put together by Brighton composer Orlando Gough.

It will feature 200 singers, 30 ballroom dancers, four pianists and percussionist Files Perring.

The performance will start outdoors and then take the audience into the building.

Mr Gough said: "It's a performance piece created for the building, about sailing ships, slave ships, submarines and the sea."

He said he was pleased to see the restoration had gone well.

He said: "It's going to be absolutely fantastic.

"Like all renovations, it's not quite ready on time but it's always that way."

The opening day will also feature performances from Lois Weaver and Gary Stevens, along with a firework display.

Development manager Stewart Drew said the pavilion was already attracting interest from potential commercial sponsors, who would help keep the building in the black.

Film companies are lining up to use it as a set and the pavilion will also host weddings, corporate events and private parties.

The De La Warr Pavilion opens on Saturday at noon.