About That Cinema …

Brentwood Gazette Article
12th November, 2014

My Letter Part 1

You know, it’s an ongoing thing … 

That’s possibly a phrase that’s got you wondering, hasn’t it?

But what I’m talking about … ?

Is Brentwood’s Cinema.

Or rather …

The cinema we haven’t got: and haven’t had for some time.

~≈fi≈~

As you may or not know, I live in Brentwood: in Essex.

And have done for most of my life.

And, as I was growing up, Brentwood had a cinema: only a two-screener, in what’s now Brentwood’s branch of Sports Direct.

It closed, many years ago.

And, over the past few years?

Over the past few years, any one who lived in Brentwood wanting to catch a movie on the big screen would have to head for cinema complexes in Romford, Basildon or Thurrock Lakeside.

Or maybe Chelmsford.

Brentwood hasn’t had the facilities.

Over the past few years, though?

Over the past few years, Brentwood Council has wanted to invite developers into the area of what’s now called William Hunter Way: around what’s now Brentwood’s large branch of Sainsburys.

That’s lead to endless arguments.

Obviously.

Ultimately, the previous aministration’s attempts to put something in place failed.

~≈fi≈~

Recently, though?

Recently, Brentwood Council’s new administration — a coalition of Liberal Democrats, Labour and Brentwood First councillors — issued a consultation: to see what sort of development Brentwood residents favoured.

Quite a few — going by the results — favoured a cinema.

As did I.

Please note, no-one has stated what size cinema.

Keep that in mind.

In last week’s Gazette?   In last week’s Gazette, three Brentwood councillors — Councillors Le Surf, Baker and Quirk — indicated they felt residents would not want a large scale multiplex.   (I’ve included the relevant article as the first picture: you should be able to double-click on it, to read it.)

Which prompted me to write my most recent letter.   (Again, you can open the second and third pictures.)

~≈fi≈~

Overnight, though … ?

Overnight, I was somewhat sleepless.

Tossing and turning for a LONG old time!

I have to admit, the one thing that sort of helped?

Was getting the sort of idea one gets at two in the morning.

In the original article, three councillors say that a small cinema would be what was wanted.

In my original letter to the Gazette, I said I’d been told that any cinema in Brentwood could only be economically viable with around six screens.

To be perfectly frank?

I’d picked up the impression — following the story for for all these years — that Brentwood’s councillors want a small scheme: and have all along.

Whereas developers and the cinema chains want something bigger: the six screens or more I suggest in my letter.

I’ve picked up the impression, over the years, that this has been a major sticking point.

Either way … ?

Either way, I know the few councillors I’ve talked to were concerned over the size of any cinema.

What occurred to me last night?

Was I that didn’t know — for certain — what cinema chains would want.   In other words, I had no idea how many screens a cinema chain would want to have at a venue in a town the size of Brentwood.

I thought I should ask.

The letter I drafted, this morning, went like this.

I’m a resident of Brentwood, a small town in Essex with a population of some 50000: and best known — fortunately or otherwise — as home to ‘The Only Way Is Essex’.

Over the past few years, there’s been much discussion of whether a cinema should be built in town.   That’s something I personally feel would be a good thing: as, according to a recent consultation by Brentwood Council, do many in town.

However, although the local newspaper’s site doesn’t show it, many councillors seem to feel a small venue would be best suited to the town’s needs: a small venue with not many screens.   (The relevant article is in the edition of the Brentwood Gazette, dated 12th November, 2014.)

I’ve personally gone on record to say I believe that cinema chains such as yours would prefer something with more screens: the impression I’ve received over the years, and my own observations, say chains would prefer venues with at least 6 — and probably more — screens, per venue.

I’ll admit to happily being no accountant, industry expert, or economist.   But in order to have a better understanding of the subject, I’d like to ask a couple of related questions, if possible.

How many screens would a venue need, to be economically viable in a town with the population and transport links Brentwood has?

And how many seats would each such screen, need?

Any information your company can offer would be gratefully received.

And was sent to the various customer services department of Vue, Empire, Cineworld, Odeon and Merlin Cinemas.

Now, I know it’s the weekend.

So I don’t expect any answers: at least until Monday: at the very earliest.

But as soon as I get some sort of result?

I’ll have a better idea of what they want.

What I do after that … ?

I’ll let you know … 

~≈fi≈~