Redcar's revamped Regent Cinema looking spick and span after major refurbishment

Redcar's home of the silver screen is looking spick and span after a major refurbishment.

The seafront Regent cinema has been repainted, had its roof repaired and even been given a snazzy, illuminated LCD sign to show which blockbusters are currently playing.

Just under a year ago, a “Save The Regent Cinema” campaign was launched amid rumours of a multi-leisure development on the Coatham Bowl site.

A Facebook site received more than 4,000 “likes” within 48 hours.

The new LCD signage

And at a public meeting in May, chaired by Labour’s parliamentary candidate Anna Turley, Redcar and Cleveland Council leader, Councillor George Dunning, and Cabinet member for culture, leisure and tourism, Olwyn Peters, pledged the future of the cinema was safe.

After the meeting, the council agreed to carry out some renovation of the Regent which had been overlooked during the seafront regeneration, and the Regent Heritage Trust was established as a community group to preserve public interest and support for the building.

Members of the trust and the public then came together last August to give the cinema interior a deep clean in preparation for the renovation, for which the council budgeted £58,000.

Redcar's Regent Cinema has had a makeover, with new signage

Cinema boss Neil Bates said: “The cinema is looking fantastic. The overwhelming public support we have received in this process has been so inspiring and I am really glad the community and the council have been able to give our wonderful cinema the facelift she deserves.”

Chair of the Regent Heritage Trust, Natalie King, said: “I’m delighted our campaign has had such a great outcome. The public response was terrific and I’d like to thank the council for undertaking the work.

Anna Turley added: “This shows what people can achieve when they come together to change things. There is so much to be proud of in our town and the Regent is an important part of our seaside heritage.”

Councillor Dunning said: “With this latest renovation and redecoration of the iconic Regent Cinema on Redcar seafront, we hope the cinema can carry on providing top quality entertainment for years to come.

“The support shown by members of the community proves just how much the cinema has become a part of Redcar and how willing people are to help bring it into the 21st Century.”