John Marwood
I ♥ cryptic crosswords
What would you do with the building then? Bulldoze it and bung a monstrosity such as Riverside Centre in its place?
You have a massive whip?
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What would you do with the building then? Bulldoze it and bung a monstrosity such as Riverside Centre in its place?
You know I haveYou have a massive whip?
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 The new riverside what did it replace a falling down car park and an out of date leisure centre.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?
It's tradition
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.
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.
Time will tell.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.