Friends Of Bexhill Cinema
posted by Andrew J on 21 Aug 2011 at 12:14 pm
Hi there we are a group of Bexhill People that want to take over and run a modern day 3 screen cinema and entertainment centre in Western road the old Playhouse we have petition`s up across Bexhill and have a facebook page called "friends of bexhill cinema" people are more then welcome to join as the building been empty since 2008 does not mean it`s not wanted I know of 7 people that went to Maltbys and offer to use it for diffrents things and have been mucked around or turned down It seemd there more then happy to knock the 1921 cinema the last one left standing in Bexhill and build flats and a retail outlet underneath ( poss a Tesco`s) do we need more Flats ? look at the two big blocks half empty on the seafront ? please make your voice heard join are group on Facebook or sign our petition Because The agents dont Think Bexhill needs a Cinema and somewhere to entertain and have a laugh ??
Follow up messages
Bexhill Cinema
posted by Jude on 22 Aug 2011 at 6:58 pm
Please....NOT ANOTHER TESCO!!!
I think they're going for world domination.
Cinema
posted by Pete Kempthorne on 23 Aug 2011 at 2:58 pm
I would love to have a cinema in Bexhill. I will be glad to support this
To Join Friends Of Bexhill Cinema
posted by Andrew on 24 Aug 2011 at 5:54 pm
to join theres 2 ways
1 join our facebook page Friends of bexhill cinema.
2 there are Petitions up in most shops in Western road, care drug store,Ye olde Chocolate shoppe,Wobbly Rabbit,La Maison Interiors & Gifts,Newsmart,The Lemon Tree,MJM hair studio,Buzz Hairdressers,Mad expectations,Dyamond Dance aswell as TVC,NO 48, Bistro 45
The Playhouse
posted by Cary on 25 Aug 2011 at 11:48 pm
Andrew,
We too went to view the place with Maltby's some 2 years ago, with a view to trying to continue it as a cinema and local entertainment venue.
It needed a considerable amount of work to be undertaken even then, but it was achievable, if there was sufficient support. At the time, we were advised that they had secured a purchaser for the cinema, but that clearly has not happened.
I would be pleased to support your bid to try to secure the Playhouse, since I believe it can continue to make a valuable contribution to Bexhill.
For Cary
posted by Andrew Crotty on 26 Aug 2011 at 5:41 pm
Cary please could you contact me through FB please
Rother`s Last Remaining Cinema
posted by Andrew Crotty on 07 Sept 2011 at 3:50 pm
What do Tony O'Callaghan,Graham Norton,Rupert Grint,John Tidmarsh O,B,E,Sabrina Franklyn and Hale and Pace all have in common? they are just a few of the 4000 + who have signed a petition against the demolition of Bexhill's last remaining cinema and the proposed development of the site to build a supermarket with flats above,
The owners of the cinema ,a charitable trust have submitted plans to Rother district council to demolish this treasured building and build a store with twelve flats above.There have been numerous flats buillt within the town in recent years which still remain unsold .Within the planning application it is stated that the cinema isn't viable and would cost too much to re open as a cinema /entertainments venue those opposed to the plans disagree and have received massive local support by signing the petition ,joining the facebook group and more importantly objecting to the planning department in writing.
Andrew Crotty
friends of bexhill cinema
Cinema
Bexhill Cinema
posted by Brian Andre on 18 Sept 2011 at 11:30 am
We fully support your plan to revieve the idea of a cinema in Bexhill and condemn the unrealistic plan of more flats with the problems of building disruption, more car parking problems and the numerous new empty flats in the town.
Brian Andre and Peter Folstar
Good Luck!
Thank U
posted by Andrew J Crotty on 21 Sept 2011 at 2:04 pm
To Brian & Peter and Bexhill town forum I would like to say thank you for your support
Save Our Cinema
posted by Leonie Hartard on 21 Sept 2011 at 9:39 pm
I wrote to the planning department today to voice my total opposition to the plans to demolish this essential piece of Bexhill's history. I completely agree that the last thing we need is another Tesco, and I wonder if the local traders in Western Road would welcome one. I think we need to raise more awareness of the plans to scrap this wonderful old cinema. I would definitely support a local cinema, and I regularly attend screenings that the St.Leonards Film Society organise, but only because we do not have a local cinema of our own. I work in the film industry and I am wondering if there is some way I could encourage some support through contacts in the industry. I have three small children who love going to the cinema, we could have a Saturday morning kids club, perhaps. I have signed up to the Friends of Bexhill Cinema via Facebook and have so far recruited two other Friends, and I intend to sign the petition tomorrow. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to help to support this campaign.
RE Save Our Cinema
posted by Andrew J Crotty on 22 Sept 2011 at 6:53 pm
Thank you Leonie all help would greatly be accepted can you add me to your FB page please Andrew J Crotty
Photos Of Bexhill Cinema Western Rd
posted by Andrew J Crotty on 22 Sept 2011 at 6:55 pm
Hi does anyone have any photo`s of BEXHILL cinema in western road any would be great please contact me angel74@talktalk.net thank you
Save The Cinema
posted by andrew j crotty on 07 Oct 2011 at 12:54 pm
Please can everyone ask there friends to join this group on facebook we have till the 17th and would anyone be free to stand outside the town hall to show them we want to save this lovely Cinema anyone thats free on the 17th of Nov please reply thanks
Cinema
posted by Verna Lodder on 01 Nov 2011 at 4:58 am
Bexhill needs the cinema. I want to see the more discriminating films. These used to be shown at this cinema when it was called the Curzon. I am fed up with these greedy developers and landlords who seem to have the stranglehold. We do not need more flats. The two blocks on the seafront are a case in point. Who is going to be living in them. Asylum Seekers? This will certainly change the face of Bexhill.
We Need Another Cinama
posted by j godwin on 15 Nov 2011 at 6:45 pm
Give permission to open the cinama in bexhill due to fuel rises it would be nice to be able to walk to the town to see good films and not have to drive over to eastbourne thank you.
Who Went To The Cinema
posted by Peter on 04 Dec 2011 at 12:12 pm
When the cinema was open (as the Redstack) I went to see some films there. Often I was one of two or three pepople who attended. It's all very well saying we need a cinema but we need to attend. I would love to have a cinema showing second run films (the ones that were in the cinema a month ago but you missed them for some reason), these would be cheaper to show than first run films and should attract an audience.
I would also like to see it used as a venue for live music, I went to see Carl Palmer (packed out) and others there but we need to have some bands that local youngsters would like to see.
Website For Cinema
posted by Andrew on 15 Dec 2011 at 8:33 am
Hi theres now a website for the Friends of Bexhill Cinema it is > http://www.friendsofbexhillcinema.webeden.co.uk
Use It Or Lose It
posted by Paul Minter on 16 Dec 2011 at 10:49 pm
It always makes me smile when I see these signs. The people of Bexhill have voted, they go to Hastings or Eastbourne! My wife $ I went once, 18 years ago?, to Bexhill cinema - we watched the whole film just the 2 of us.
For years the family have occasionally gone to Hastings or Eastbourne. But tickets are too expensive anyway.
basically if people wanted a cinema it would never had closed. Perhaps have it as a cinema museum like the old steam railways. If it opened again tomorrow, we'd just keep going to Hastings & Eastbourne.
I'd love another supermarket. It will bring in people to Bexhill 7 days a week 8 am - 8pm and create more jobs like Iceland. Many were against Iceland but people I visit in their 80's & 90's love it and their delivery service.
In Reply To Use It Or Lose It
posted by Net on 20 Dec 2011 at 12:30 am
Me and my kids don't go to Hastings or Eastbourne more once a year to see a film, due to petrol prices, cinema ticket costs and cinema food costs.
In fact our last time was Christmas eve last year as a treat as it was once of the Narnia films.
What Andrew Crotty is hoping for is people to volunteer their time till the cinema is up and running. I would lend a few hours, and others have also offered. Collections and fundraising, there are all sorts of idea's and a meeting coming up.
I think it wouldn't survive as a museum, people will go once or twice and that will be that.
It needs regular fresh films. I would attend as we did at the cinema set up in the church in the town hall a little while ago.
The Tesco will be fairly small, most of the site will be flats. And there was no additional parking created for the Tesco/flats.
Considering most of Western Road is already loading or disabled parking, how an earth are the residents of new flats going to park anywhere near their new homes. I for one wouldn't buy a flat and end up walking miles to a car that needs moving every two hours !
We have plenty of smaller supermarkets in and around the town, plus the larger ones just out of town. We need something more for the children and teens to do in the area.
On leaving Tesco's at Ravenside, Sunday evening, the teenagage boys were already outside the closed store, spitting, swearing and heading at us riding skateboards.
How can providing people with somewhere dry to go to and have something to do for a few hours compete with yet another Tesco !!!
And as for jobs, well the cinema will create them too, in time. Volunteers will have something extra to add to their C.V's. Work experience in media or the like.
It really could offer something of value back to Bexhill.
Facebook & New Web Site
posted by Andrew J Crotty on 04 Jan 2012 at 7:19 pm
Thank you for all your message`s We are still fighting to save this building and still would like the support of Bexhill and surrounding areas too. We are on facebook and our new site, friendsofbexhillcinema.webeden.co.uk
or e mail us at fobc@tvstar.com
many thanks A J Crotty, FOBC Chairman.
Cinema Membership
posted by Caroline on 14 Jan 2012 at 1:14 pm
I am in support of the cinema to remain for historical reasons. I remember before Phillip Cotterill took the venue over, there was a cinema club, and art house films were shown one or two evening per week with hardly any interest shown.
It would be nice to have a cinema club for children on saturdays and for films to be shown every evening or every other evening during the week, with a yearly membership fee available and ticket offers e.g. half price if you bring a friend or member of the family. Also, for ticket prices to be a reasonable cost, say ?5.00, to attract a larger audience, and not extortionate prices charged for drinks, popcorn and sweets. I'd personally like there to be a special weekly friday/saturday night film, e.g. Comedies starring Doris Day, or dance routines starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, or musicals e.g. Gi Gi, and other such classic films for all the family to enjoy. Hopefully this will give the cinema the chance of survival. Perhaps films could be shown downstairs in the empty retail shop at first,to build up interest and revenue for the repairs required to the cinema. Maybe a weekly talk/slide show/yoga class/tea dance/salsa classes/keep fit class could take place downstairs in the afternoons/evenings, again to increase interest and revenue for the repairs and to have something going on in the town for all ages to enjoy.
Cinema
posted by Tom Wends on 02 Mar 2012 at 1:42 am
If the Curzon is to ever reopen a huge amount of money will need to be invested to make it compliant, as well as ongoing costs such as rent etc. I can't imagine anyone would be daft enough to put their money into it without being pretty sure of decent audience numbers. And I can't imagine that enough locals would prefer to go there, with no parking, when they have Multiplexes on their doorstep, so it is hard to see where this will all end up. Could be a status quo for some time methinks.
HOPS
posted by Juley Ross on 18 Mar 2012 at 11:03 am
Hailsham Pavilion was taken from dereliction to working and thriving cinema/music venue/theatre, and does brilliantly in just a few years! Same would seem to apply here - get going!
Bexhill Cinema Is Different
posted by Cary on 22 Mar 2012 at 2:15 pm
Juley,
The success of Hailsham Pavilion was considerably different from the Bexhill Cinema.
As a key point, the Hailsham building is owned by the Council and rented to the Cinema Group at a peppercorn rent.
Unless Bexhill Cinema were to be the subject of a compulsory purchase order (highly unlikely), it firstly needs to be purchased. Regardless as to whether reasonable, it is currently for sale at "offers in the region of ?500k".
In addition to this, the Engineer's report on the structure (refer to Rother Planning website) highlights considerable issues that would be both costly and present significant risks to any perspective Purchaser.
The final issue is the costs to renovate the building to an acceptable modern standard (3 screens being suggested), complying with Fire Officer requirements, disabled access requirements, service upgrade works etc, etc.
No matter what "hype" anyone is suggesting, as any expert in this field should advise, this does not come cheaply on a building of this age and type (Hailsham was in the order of ?500k, some 13 years ago).
I commend all those trying to save the cinema, their time, commitment and enthusiasm. But, I would suggest there are unlikely to be too many backers prepared to spend in excess of ?1m (possibly nearer ?1.5m) to achieve a refurbished cinema, without some other income stream to cover this significant outlay/ financing.
I would certainly be pleased to be proved wrong, but there needs to be some commercial reality in this debate, otherwise if either of the "Friends" groups (there are two!)are sucessful in securing the site, it would be disastrous for them if they discover they have insufficient funds to complete the renovation to a standard that people would now expect.
Friends Of Bexhill Cinema
posted by Andrew J Crotty on 01 May 2012 at 5:08 pm
Hello people Thank you for all your comments I can say that things are
going to go we have a bunch of people who are on our side and we have
already had a surveyors report and it was very positive and gave us under
45 wks to have the building up and running with up to date material and
we will not buy the cinema as there's a clause that would be a time bomb
for the friends of Bexhill cinema and we are on course to look at other
arrangements there is only one true "Non profit" group called THE
FRIENDS OF BEXHILL CINEMA and want Bexhill to be a great town again please keep up the support and we are on facebook and have a web site http://friendsofbexhillcinema.webeden.co.uk
or e mail us at fobc[AT]tvstar.com
thank you
A J Crotty
chairman
Cannes
posted by Andrew J Crotty on 25 May 2012 at 9:10 am
It?s in the Cannes
ONE of my colleagues will be attending the Cannes Film Festival this year and will be promoting our cause to save Bexhill?s cinema. We are talking with Rother and getting our paperwork all in order to reopen the cinema, and people have all said how good it will be to have a cinema open on ?our front door step again.? Our website is http://friendsofbexhillcinema.webeden.co.uk
ANDREW J CROTTY
Chairman
Friends of Bexhill Cinema
Your Doing A Great Job
posted by christine on 28 May 2012 at 9:21 pm
I really feel you are doing a great service for Bexhill. Having our own cinema will help to make Bexhill equal to both Hastings and Eastbourne. Considering the lousy transport service we cant jump on a bus after 20.00 pm enabling us to go to the Crumbles cinema for an evening out. Why should the voice of the people in Bexhill not be heard and acted on. Why dont the powers that be listen to what people are asking for just for a change. I have know doubt many many people would love the idea of an evening out at their own local cinema. Im sure this would have a knock on effect by generating much needed money for the various business in the town. Not all middle aged and older folk go to bed at 20.00 with their hot chocolate !!!!!! . Its a win win situation. Fingers crossed. Christine
Thank U Christine
posted by Andrew on 05 Jun 2012 at 6:34 pm
Thank u Christine for you kind words
Appeal Is In
posted by Andrew J Crotty on 17 Jun 2012 at 8:43 pm
Hi The owners of the cinema have put an appeal in to RDC as they say the Cinema "Has no Heritage asset" and they want to build 14 flats there I can`t believe we need more flats when the old hotel site in Sea Rd will building flats !! Here is the appeal details on Rother
http://ocellaweb.rother.gov.uk/portal/pls/portal/rotherweb.RPT_APPEAL_DOCS.show?p_arg_names=reference&p_arg_values=2106
Please share your view
Meetings?
posted by Viv Taylor Gee on 26 Jul 2012 at 9:06 am
Hi, we are about to move to Bexhill, and would very much like to help if we can on this campaign. Persistence usually wins out and congratulations on what you have done already.
There are some great small cinemas round the
country which offer all sorts of entertainment as well as films, whether its jazz, talks, plus cafe, etc, making them a
small hub of local activity. I dont know the town yet, but it sounds a great idea and I am sure if the money can be found and
a "business model" found, the council would surely be under pressure to give us a chance.
Does your campaign meet at all?
Reply To Viv
posted by Andrew on 29 Jul 2012 at 3:29 pm
Hi Viv we are not meeting just yet but please e mail me at fobc[AT]tvstar.com and I will be happy to meet up and chat over a coffee
Bexhill Cinema Saved
posted by Helen McCarthy on 10 Apr 2013 at 4:57 pm
As of Monday 8th April Rother granted the cinema Asset of Community Value status until 2018 under the Localism Act.
Lots to be done so watch this Space
Public Meeting
posted by Andrew J Crotty on 22 May 2013 at 7:34 pm
Hello just to let everyone know that Bexhill Cinema is having a public meeting on June 29th at St Barnabas Church in Sea Road Bexhill
Hope to see you there
Meeting Cancelled
posted by Andrew J Crotty on 02 Jun 2013 at 6:21 pm
Hi due to time I`m sorry to say that the Public Meeting is to be cancelled I will of course put up a new date
Cinema Purchase
posted by Brian Cope on 28 Jun 2013 at 7:09 pm
Hi,
Did you know that the Govt. have made £250m in long term loans to help local communities buy "their pubs, shops, community centres and village greens". Surely the cinema fall should fall within the schemes remit. The funds will be made available through the Big Lottery Fund and Society Capital over the next 10 years. Got to be worth a bid!
Thank You Brian
posted by Andrew J Crotty on 01 Aug 2013 at 9:50 am
Hi Brian thank you for that we are working closely with all schemes and should have some good news soon
News
posted by Robert James on 24 Jul 2014 at 9:52 am
I presume the news wasn't good. What did happen to this great idea?
Bexhill Cinema
posted by Simon Read on 29 Oct 2014 at 5:44 pm
Is the issue of a possible cinema 3 days a week in Bexhill still live
I am interested if so
Simon Read
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