Multiple bids make it ‘more likley than ever’ that cinema will return to Harborough
News Release from December 11th at 2pm
Harborough Cinema campaigners were delighted to hear that at least two cinema chains have made a bid for the former Kwik-Save /Ritz Cinema site on Northampton Road. The derelict building was scheduled for demolition and earmarked for flats before the campaign began in September 2007. The site’s current owners advertised the building for sale as a ‘leisure opportunity’ towards the end of October. Members of the campaign have been speaking to cinema groups and property developers in order to bring a cinema back to the town centre. When the deadline passed for submissions on Friday, it emerged that at least two cinema groups had put a bid in for the site.
The more ambitious of the two was ‘The Light’ cinema group who are planning the launch of up to ten state of the art digital cinemas around the UK. Their bid was ‘above guide price’ submission for the land, with their plans including a 5 screen cinema on the site as well as retail space, restaurants and housing.
MD for the The Light Group, John Sullivan says “I am very excited about bringing cinema back to Market Harborough – the town would be a prime site for such a facility.” Current owners Alislane are expected to review all submissions shortly and to announce the winning bid before Christmas.