Breakthrough in Cinema Bid

For those of you who missed it, this is Thursday’s Harborough Mail front page story in full.   

THE DREAM of Harborough getting its own cinema for the first time in nearly 30 years has suddenly become a realistic possibility. A campaign launched last month by Harborough 11-year-olds Lucy Seaward and Mollie Drewry to turn the former Kwik Save building in Northampton Road back into a cinema has been gathering momentum with about 3,500 people signing a petition.

Unknown to them, behind the scenes, a small group of people has for many months worked hard to bring various parties together, including landowners, developers, investors and cinema managers, to try to make the dream a reality.

A combination of moves initiated by former town centre manager Gaynor Forryan, Harborough chamber of trade president Sharron Shannon and, more recently, Harborough-based PR expert Alastair Campbell, together with publicity on our front pages, has succeeded in moving the project forward.

One key stumbling block to the plan was Alislane, the London-based owners of the Kwik Save site, wanting to turn the former supermarket into retirement flats and shops. But there was a major breakthrough this week with the announcement from Alislane that the firm was now willing to sell the building – which housed Harborough’s Ritz cinema between 1939 and 1978.

Mark Slatter, an Alislane director, said: “Were we to be offered an amount of money which equals that which we have expended in buying the building and all the interest and fees to date, we have stated that we would sell the building, subject to contract. The ball is firmly in their court and if they can come up with an offer that allows us to sell the building without making a loss, then we will gladly do so.”

This change in stance clears the way for people to buy the site – and the Mail has learned that three investors have already expressed an interest in building a cinema there.

A Northants-based developer who has built major leisure facilities in the region is due to view the site today (Thursday). Another firm which specialises in developing brownfield sites for leisure use is also working behind the scenes and is “confident” that it can find an investor or consortium which would turn it back into a cinema.

And a third company which has renovated 16 cinemas across the country has shown interest in the site as well.

To coincide with the promising developments this week, town firm JED Design (Architectural Services) of Leicester Road has produced an eye-catching artist’s impression of what the building could look like if reverted to a cinema.

Mr Campbell, who has been driving the Harborough cinema campaign, said: “While gathering names for the petition it’s interesting to see how enthusiastic people are about having a cinema.

“On the other hand people are saying ‘It won’t happen.’ But there’s a really good chance that between the three of these investors, we have a buyer.”

In case you didn’t see East Midlands Today on Thursday during the day and in the evening, here is our 30 seconds of fame when the film about the cinema campaign aired.  I have to say that we were all delighted by the piece that Brady put together.  We were sort of expecting a ‘news’ item but unstead he put together this lovely homage to movie trailers.  Very fitting. 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7000000/newsid_7005200/7005204.stm?bw=bb&mp=rm&news=1

Mollie says it all towards the end – “nothing is impossible”.  There is a lot of activity going on behild the scenes to make this dream a reality.  Please continue your support by asking everybody you know in the town who thinks a cinema would be a good thing to sign up!  

There has bee a big surge in on-line signing over the weekend. Here are some of your comments - please keep them coming in…

Harry Rigby says: “I used to live in Lutterworth and visited the Ritz occasionally. Many buildings like this are being needlessly demolished when they could be put to good use. Good luck in the campaign” 

Charles Bower says: “A bowling alley would be an equally good idea.” 

Sophie Rice says  “It would be great to have a cinema back in MH, I remember watching Bambi there when I was 7. To have a cinema back would be fantastic! would keep kids off street, Less crime = less policing (saving money) I say bring it back!!!”  

Peter Mitchell says “We have had a cinema in Harborough for the last 6 years!!!! So far, 175 films have been shown and over 8200 tickets sold. Where is it: Harborough Theatre. What’s it called: Octagon Films.  However, if we can get a second cinema into Harborough, great. There’s room for both!!” 

Brian Jarvis says “A wonderful last chance to give this town some real life at last. Location ideal as it always was. Overflow parking across the road and a step away from bus station. It must be a winner for Harborough and surrounding villages.”  

Maria Smith says: “I think this is a fantastic idea. I would love to have a cinema closer to home, and with the ever increasing population of market Harborough we need the council to provide the right facilities, instead of more phone shops, more coffee shops!!!!” 

Michele Robertson says “I have lived in M.Harb for seven years and the only thing missing is a cinema!  It has everything else one could wish for in a home town, a vibrant town centre – and yes I do shop locally – a great population mix – we just need another social venue – what could be better than a smallish cinema?  It’s got my vote!” 

Darren Booth says: “Please save this cinema and with it this lonely building will be saved and enjoyed for all. I live in
Leicester and will travel to see a film”

Several mentions of the campaign on this morning’s Ben Jackson Radio show on BBC Radio Leicester.  Ben is a brilliant presenter and seems to have really got into the idea of renovating the building.  I’ve met Ben a few times and he is as nice in person as he sounds of the radio.  This link will connect you to a full news page about the story on the BBC..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/content/articles/2007/09/20/market_harborough_cinema_feature.shtml

Also, Garry from Caged Fish www.cagedfish.co.uk has put together these special links to the various stories as they arreared this morning…

http://www.harboroughcinema.com/mp3/bbc_news_report.mp3

http://www.harboroughcinema.com/mp3/girls_interview.mp3

http://www.harboroughcinema.com/mp3/alastair_interview.mp3

You may also have seen the story on East Midlands today at lunchtime. I belive a fuller version is going to be featured tonight on BBC1 between 6.30 and 7pm – get your popcorn ready! �

HFM decided to headline on the cinema campaign on yesterday’s main local news slot at 6pm.  The story featured the campaign by local business owners to back the idea of a cinema.  Sharon Shannon owner of Halo and chair of the local Chamber of Commerce was interviewed on the many ecconomic benifits that a cinema would bring to the town centre.  Many thanks to Nick in the news room at HFM www.harboroughfm.co.uk for his continuing efforts to back the cinema campaign.

I’ve just been speaking to Alex Blackwell the News Editor at the Harborough Mail.  Thursday’s edition will contain some significant news about the cinema campaign.  In adittion, they will be running a feature about the Cinema over the years and the campaign to bring a cinema back to Market Habrorough, the problems faced etc.  Make sure you buy your copy when it arrives on Thursday Morning.

BBC East Midlands Today was filming in the town today for a special report on the cinema campaign.  Lucy and Mollie were interviewed in Welland Park and outside the cinema and various scenes were filmed around the High Street. 

Still shots of the cinema from years gone by were also filmed in the Harborough Museum – thanks Zara – and the crew then went off to Melton Mowbury to film at the Regal Cinema where  www.regal-melton.co.uk where the owner John Merryweather was interviewed. 

John has said openly that he would be happy to run a cinema in the town if sombody would develop the site.  John has many years experiance in running national cinema chains as well as independant cinemas ans is convinced that Harborough would attract 150,000 admissions a year – enough to make the site profitable to opperate.

The news report is most likley to be aired on Thursday, but check to see if it airs on Wednesday.  If we get told about it beforehand you’ll hear about it here first.  Also, we hope to provide a link from the site soon after it is available so that you will be able to watch it on this website.  If you have signed up on-line we also hope to e-mail you a link so that you can forward it to your friends!    

Please keep telling your friends about the campaign and ask them to sign up online!