The transformation of the former United Reformed Chapel and adjoining Manse in The Parade into a state of the art digital Cinema is now underway.
After a gap of well over forty years, Marlborough will finally have its own independent cinema. The original cinema closed back in the early seventies and was replaced by the Waitrose supermarket in the High Street.
After receiving the approvals to proceed – Planning Application and Listed Building Permission – work was rescheduled and has since restarted
Pewsey’s Acorn Builders (Pewsey) are leading this project which is planned to take many months with a target opening date of next Autumn.
In the past few days, the former Chapel and Manse have been connected for the first time, with large open spaces being created by linking the two buildings and removing the chimney, and moving the staircase in the Manse.
The former Chapel will house the foyer and a state-of-the-art single screen auditorium with 112 seats, including a balcony level, whilst the adjoining Manse will be transformed into a bar and café with seating area on both the ground floor and upstairs rooms.
Robert Hiscox, Chairman of Image Cinemas who are developing the former Chapel commented:
“The support from the community and from investors for the new cinema has been extraordinarily
positive and generous, making all the hard work of the team feel even more worthwhile.
The cinema landscape is evolving and presenting a huge opportunity for venues like ours. With many blockbuster releases delayed until 2021, the film line-up once we open will be spectacular. In the meantime, many smaller British and independent film titles are more widely accessible, and audiences are preferring the experience of local, more intimate cinema venues to the standard multiplexes”.
The Parade Cinema will become a key feature of Marlborough’s cultural community and developers Image Cinemas will be offering incentives for customers to become involved in the project. It will be possible to sponsor a seat – for £500 anyone can have their name on a seat, which will also include a year’s ‘Friend’s Membership’ which will give access to early booking, discounts on tickets, food & drink as well as newsletters, film news and more.
To keep in touch with progress visit the www.theparadecinema.com website, or follow on Instagram: @theparadecinema , or Twitter: @paradecinema , or Facebook: theparadecinema.