Stafford Cinema - ups & downs.

Glam said:

What would you do with the building then? Bulldoze it and bung a monstrosity such as Riverside Centre in its place?

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You have a massive whip?

John Marwood said:

You have a massive whip?

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You know I have

I cannot understand the hate. The new riverside what did it replace a falling down car park and an out of date leisure centre.
The cinema is not fit for purpose. The new cube cinema will be modern with an actual decent picture and sound system. Why would people not want to go there?

daz100 said:

I cannot understand the hate. The new riverside what did it replace a falling down car park and an out of date leisure centre.
The cinema is not fit for purpose. The new cube cinema will be modern with an actual decent picture and sound system. Why would people not want to go there?

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It's tradition

Who is this @HopesDad new guy (or gal)?

You (he) speaks the truth, and be a little bit of fresh air, hope he (you) doesn't (eventually) get put off by the rest of us (JM and P* and i, etc).
You've got to be an all powerful endurance rider, to stay beyond 100 messages, here.

*don't take the bite!

Thing is - fundamentals - is it no longer fit for the purpose of showing films in the kind of environment in which people nowadays expect to watch films?

Yes

Is that in some ways lamentable?

Yes

Can it be 're-imagined' to maintain its historic purpose of showing films in the kind of environment in which people nowadays expect to watch films?

No

Can it be 're-purposed' to do something else?

Probably not

Will it therefore crumble and die?

Yes - unless, of course, it is consumed by fire first

We none of us make the rules, we are simply beholden to them.

Wetherspoon lll

John Marwood said:

It's tradition

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So was The Dirty Duck.......

basil said:

So was The Dirty Duck.......

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Fanny was sweeter in those days

I'd love to buy the old cinema, restore it to it's former glory and play period classic films and art films, providing an alternative to mainstream cinema.
However, I don't think it's commercially viable in a place like Stafford.

SharkBait said:

I'd love to buy the old cinema, restore it to it's former glory and play period classic films and art films, providing an alternative to mainstream cinema.
However, I don't think it's commercially viable in a place like Stafford.

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What about Stafford itself

I went to the Cine - world in Broad Street tonight for a 4D thang - bells whistles and fanny

I think it will appeal to people who like going to Alton Towers

HopesDad said:

I'm not being negative, just realistic. The new cinema will be busy for a few months till the novelty wears off, then it will be just as empty as the old Odeon.

By way of comparison, I refer my learned friends to the sad case of Stafford market. In the beginning was the market hall and the market arcade. Both were dated but functional, and full of stalls and customers.

Despite, or perhaps because of, that, it was all demolished and replaced with the Guildhall Centre, which was modern and clean and shiny and people liked it. The future of shopping in Stafford - shopping as it should be. And for a time it was busy, but then stalls started to close, shops closed and we now have a virtually empty market and an empty market arcade. No shops, no stalls, no customers.

So we build a new complex, the Riverside Centre. Which is modern and clean and shiny. People like it. The future of shopping in Stafford. Shopping as it should be. And for a time it will be busy ....

You get the idea.

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A cinema is nothing like the market. Markets have been killed by supermarkets filled with all the things you need at a lower cost and with tonnes of parking.

I've used the old cinema a couple of times. I like it for it's dated quirks but I'm much more likely octravel to Telford or Stoke at the minute; (marginally) comfier seats, superior sound and picture quality, more choice of films and times.

Coupled with the new places to eat and drink will be a success and a town of this size has long needed a bigger, better cinema. It'll draw many of those who go off to Telford and Stoke back to the town.

JTL85 said:

A cinema is nothing like the market. Markets have been killed by supermarkets filled with all the things you need at a lower cost and with tonnes of parking.

I've used the old cinema a couple of times. I like it for it's dated quirks but I'm much more likely octravel to Telford or Stoke at the minute; (marginally) comfier seats, superior sound and picture quality, more choice of films and times.

Coupled with the new places to eat and drink will be a success and a town of this size has long needed a bigger, better cinema. It'll draw many of those who go off to Telford and Stoke back to the town.

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Time will tell.

Notice on the window of the cinema.... Heating is knackered so expect it to be colder than usual....

The "Top of Everest" scene in Dr Strange was made even more realistic by the climate inside the cinema. Maybe the environmental conditions could be marketed as a "feature" - 5D even?

Well how many decades has Stafford's current limited cinema offer being running without risk if not being viable?

I nee modern cinema purposely built for modern demands will be an outright success and relief in the town. Hence why the apollo premises is already on offer, they just can't compete.

I am amazed it is still going tbh.

I have no idea who would want that building surely it will need a load of work doing.

Agreed

Stafford's landmark cinema up for sale with new Odeon on the way
Stafford’s cinema has been put up for sale for £750,000 as plans for a new 800-seat Odeon cinema in the town moved a step closer.


The Stafford Cinema. Picture: Google

The landmark cinema is being offered for sale by Stafford-based estate agents Millar Sandy.

Alternatively it can be rented for £75,000 a year. It was built in the 1930s and became a landmark in the town.

According to Kevin Millar, from the estate agents, the lease on hthe building runs out in 12 months and interested parties have already made contact.

Mr Millar said he has talked to ‘very specialist’ leisure providers over the potential purchase of the building – who are likely to want to convert it if they buy it.

It has three screens and is in a prime town centre location at the junctions of Lichfield Road with Bridge Street and Newport Road , but is no longer required with the new cinema on the way.

Millar Sandy’s advert states: “The Stafford Cinema is an imposing landmark building with a striking entrance feature and was built in the 1930s as an Odeon in a style of architecture typical of picture houses of that period.

“Although currently in use as a cinema, the building would be suitable for a wide variety of alternative commercial purposes subject to the appropriate planning consent and might be of particular interest to licensed and leisure operators given its proximity to similar operations.”

Amended plans for the new Odeon cinema as part of the £100m Riverside development in Stafford have been submitted to council bosses.

LXB Properties, which is in charge of Riverside, said it will start work this side of Christmas and the new cinema is likely to be open in 15 to 18 months time.

That development would be built on the former Express & Star building in Bridge Street and further along the banks of the River Sow. It also contains plans for two restaurants.

Plans asking for the amendment of one of those, which would be built onto the cinema building, have been submitted to Stafford Borough Council.

Initially it was hoped the facade of the Express & Star’s building could be retained but now developers WYG Planning want to demolish it.