Thursday, April 14, 2022

News: Operator applies for licence for new Rotherham cinema

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It is not slated to open until 2024, but Arc Cinemas is working to ensure there are no hold ups with the paperwork for the new cinema on Forge Island in Rotherham town centre.

Indeed, a brick has not even been laid yet for the eight screen cinema, but the chosen operator has applied to Rotherham Council for a premises licence.

Last year, Rothbiz reported that Arc Cinema had signed a long-term lease with national urban regenerator, Muse Developments, to become the leisure anchor at Rotherham’s Forge Island, which will see a key area in the heart of the town centre repurposed into a vibrant mixed-use destination.

Irish firm, Melcorpo runs The Arc Cinema, which has 11 sites operating or under construction in the UK and Ireland.

The extensive application for Rotherham shows that the operator wants a licence to cover a number of activities including: exhibition of a film, performance of a play, performance of live music, playing of recorded music and performance of dance, in addition to the provision of late night refreshment and the sale by retail of alcohol.

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The licence would cover 8:00am to 3:00am to enable the cinema to stay open late to enable die hard film fans to watch new releases at midnight on the day they open.

Up to 12 events per year for these cinema "all-nighters" are requested.

Plans were approved in 2020 for the Forge Island scheme which will also include a new Travelodge hotel, food and drink outlets and a car park. The new leisure facilities will be set within an attractive public square with a new pedestrian bridge connecting the scheme to the wider town centre, to create a real sense of place.

The plans detailed the cinema - the largest building in the scheme at 25,000 sq ft, positioned at the south of Forge Island. Either side of the cinema's foyer are two restaurant units (2,500 sq and 3,000 sq ft), which have the potential for mezzanine levels. Plans show five screens with between 125 and 143 seats and three smaller screens of between 50 and 83 seats.

The design approach developed by FaulknerBrowns Architects looked to the strong industrial heritage of the site which was historically home to a foundry and an iron works. The cinema design incorporates a saw-tooth roof profile with a metal cap and a robust brick podium base.

As flood alleviation and public realm work takes place around the site, Muse is currently working on detailed design in preparation for awarding a construction contract.

Legal discussions are also ongoing regarding leases and funding.

It is expected that construction will start in October 2022 allowing practical completion and handover to tenants for fitting out by January 2024.

Arc Cinema website
Forge Island website

Images: Muse

6 comments:

Anonymous,  April 14, 2022 at 12:31 PM  

Still can't understand that even though this is a leisure development,there's no bowling,makes no sense, leisure developments nearly always have bowling,as usual Rotherham dose it wrong!

Tom,  April 14, 2022 at 4:43 PM  

The leisure and cultural quarter is set continue on to corporation street and there's cash for it. https://www.rothbiz.co.uk/2021/08/news-7803-plans-drafted-for-rotherham.html

Anonymous,  April 15, 2022 at 8:36 AM  

Whilst it would make more sense to be closer to transport links, I can't see anyone risking building a bowling alley, when there is one at Kimberworth. Which over the years has reduced the number of lanes it has. Maybe we should think of other leisure options. Maybe targetting the ever growing gaming section, insteasd of ones just full of gambling machines for adults. The climbing wall at Meadowhall is popular, so something of a larger scale, may be with an aerial element (would also be good instead of a pop up park, though depends on the business rates charged).

Anonymous,  April 18, 2022 at 11:23 PM  

Something like the Tees Barage Air Park, would be good. There are plenty of sites they could build it on, team it up with a climbing wall, bouldering etc
https://www.airtrail.co.uk/

Anonymous,  April 19, 2022 at 9:15 AM  

Originally there was a theatre planned for the scheme possibly somewhere near the courthouse site, that will now be housing. The Mecca bingo site would be perfect for a theatre.

Anonymous,  April 19, 2022 at 12:10 PM  

Anonymous,well Barnsley as bowling at Metrodome,yet they've still built a bowling complex on the new glassworks development.Forge island is supposed to be a leisure development,all it got is s cinema,a small one at that,as previously stated, Rotherham planners haven't got s clue how to run a large town,they run it like s small rural council,hence no high rise buildings ,no ambition!

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