Eccentric VIP keeps a big cat in building (8)
I believe the answer is:
pavilion
'building' is the definition.
(I know that pavilion is a type of building)
'eccentric vip keeps a big cat' is the wordplay.
'eccentric' is an anagram indicator.
'keeps' indicates putting letters inside.
'big cat' becomes 'lion' (lion is a kind of big cat).
'vip' with letters rearranged gives 'pvi'.
'pvi' placed around 'a' is 'pavi'.
'pavi'+'lion'='PAVILION'
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for pavilion that I've seen before include "Building by a cricket pitch" , "Cricket ground clubhouse" , "Park shelter" , "Cricket ground building" , "Exhibition tent; sports building" .)