| THE REGAL NEWSLETTER No 1
Dear Friends,
Welcome to our first newsletter.
Over the coming months we will be issuing regular monthly newsletters now that building work at the Regal is imminent. These will provide you with all the information you need to stay abreast of events. We will inform you how the restoration is developing, and what needs to get done before everyone can start enjoying the cinema again.
Firstly, many people have asked why nothing has happened since we became involved with The Regal, and questioned whether the cinema will ever open again. Whilst from the outside it may appear very little has happened, all of you who have come into the building are very well aware that this is far from the case.
The cinema was in a terrible state of disrepair when we took over. Following 8 years of abandonment, total neglect and an uncertain future, the hard work of recent months has transformed the Regal into a space which is now useable. For this reason, we have taken the opportunity to put on a few events, which have been well supported. These events have helped in many ways: creating public awareness; proving the Regal as a viable commercial venue of the future; showing us how best to use the space; generating a strong database of contacts and raising funds to restore the landmark building.
Most of all, it has given us time to 'live' at the Regal. Watching people’s movements and use of the building during events has allowed us to adapt and improve our original scheme in several important ways. These new ideas include: art exhibition space, increasing the luxury and space of circle seating, improving the stage capacity for live events, and the coffee shop design on the ground floor. At the same time we have worked closely with our architects to obtain planning permission, listed building consent, detailed working and structural drawings.
I am sure you are all aware of the friendship schemes available. We have been very encouraged by your generosity in becoming Friends of the Regal. These schemes help to form the backbone of the community that will use the new Regal. We are sure you will enjoy all of the privileges when we are open.
People have offered their time and skills in all manner of ways: repairing the leaking roof, making the building water tight, extermination of all the pigeons and removal of guano, identified, repaired and preserved the original fixtures and fittings including doors, gas lights, mouldings etc cleaned and stripped the entire building, reinstated the water and electrical supplies, installed alarms and locks, built a customer database, an interactive website. We can’t thank you all enough: it has essentially readied the building for the major refurbishment.
When all this is said, embarking on projects of this size, it is inevitable that you encounter delays of some sort. The Regal is no different but rest assured that we, Wychavon DC and all other bodies involved have been working overtime to bring the Regal back to life.
We are all confident that building works will begin soon. We are in the final stages of grant approval and inevitably this process has taken longer than had been hoped. But we really are nearly there! Everything else is ready to go. As soon as we receive grant funding, scaffolding will be erected, the new roof will be installed and all the internal works will begin.
As for the immediate future, comments made recently have led us to a regrettable decision to cancel the Rock Night on 19th February. We have decided to replace the event with film screenings to be announced soon. Following our signing of contracts with major distributors, these will include major current films, we hope you enjoy them.
If anyone would like more info on this, please come and see me at the cinema or give me a call.
Regards,
Laurence Wiper
01386 421 007
laurence@theregal.ac
31st January 2010
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