Cinema plan for WI Hall
THE former Wisbech WI hall could soon be turned into a cinema.
An application for a premises licence has been submitted to Fenland Council by South Brink businessman, Burleigh Ibbott, to turn the Alexandra Road hall into a one-screen cinema and bar.
If the application goes through, the hall will receive a 100,000 makeover to be transformed into The Luxe, a luxury traditional cinema.
The cinema will show mostly arthouse and independent films, but Mr Ibbott is hoping to get access to some blockbusters as well, such as James Bond and Dean Spanley, part of which was filmed in the town.
There will be a bar at the front of the premises, serving alcohol, coffees and light bar snacks. It is hoped that the bar will not just be used by patrons of the cinema, but also by people going out for the night in Wisbech. An outside terrace is also planned.
There will only be seating for around 80 people with leather armchairs and two-seater sofas tiered in front of the screen. Also planned is a small premier seating area at the back of the room, offering waitress service.
"I'd like this to be the kind of place you could take your mum to," Mr Ibbott said.
If approval is given, Mr Ibbott is hoping to open in about seven weeks.
He said there had been some queries raised about whether the town is ready for an arthouse cinema, but he believes that the people of Wisbech are underestimated.
He said when he heard that the hall was for sale, he approached the WI with his idea and said it was well-received.
"There is nothing like this round here. To go to a cinema you have to travel to Peterborough or Huntingdon. There used to be one in March, but even that is gone now. To go to a proper arthouse cinema, you would need to go all the way to Cambridge", Mr Ibbott said.
He does not agree with people who think The Light Cinema in the new Cromwell Road Retail Park will be a threat to him, as the businesses would attract different audiences.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Wisbech
Thursday 17 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: North east
