May 10, 2012 10.27 am This story is over 142 months old

Plans for new cinema in uphill Lincoln

Uphill cinema: Bishop Grosseteste to convert the Bishop Greaves Theatre on Longdales Road into a modern cinema.
An upcoming Venue: Richard Hall (L) from the Lincoln Film Society and Bev Bamber, Head of Conferencing and Events at BG, at Bishop Greaves Theatre

Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln plans to spend £75,000 to convert the Bishop Greaves Theatre on Longdales Road into a modern 230 seats cinema.

The cinema will be called The Venue, and will also stage theatrical productions. Work will begin in the summer, due to finish in September.

The seating will be refurbished, a new digital projection system installed, as well as surround sound.

The cinema would screen a Silver Screen series, a children’s matinee series, mainstream films and an independent arthouse film programme.

Ticket prices for the cinema will probably be around £5, with concessions for students.

Bev Bamber, Head of Conferencing and Events at BG, said: “We’ve been discussing this for 15 months and we’re all delighted that the plan is now coming to fruition.

“We’re very excited about these plans, which will provide an alternative venue for cinema in uphill Lincoln without losing the performing arts space on campus which is so important to us.

“Rather than competing with the Odeon and the Ritz Cinema, The Venue will complement the existing offer and provide the public with more choice.

“Our main commercial offering will be films, but The Venue will continue to be used for drama teaching and stage productions,” he added.

Pete Genders from Off The Bech, the organisation behind the Ritz Cinema project said: “This is spectacular news for Lincoln.

“We met with Bishop Grosseteste in January to offer our support for their project and we are really looking forward to working together with the two cinemas.

“One of the ideas we have been discussing is to bring a nationally recognised film festival to Lincoln, along the lines of Sundance or Cannes, which would see The Ritz, The LPAC and The Venue working together as a trinity of cinemas to put on this fantastic festival.

“All in all, this is a truely exciting time for independent cinema in Lincoln — the choice is finally returning for cinema-going residents,” he added.

The Lincoln Film Society, whose idea it was to approach BG and ask for new digital facilities, will be involved with The Venue.

Richard Hall, Honorary Chairman of the Lincoln Film Society. “Next season will be our 60th and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate it than to take this step.”

Source: Shooting Star | Photo: Lincolnshire Echo