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A former high street cinema-turned antiques shop wants to relive its glory days by becoming the town’s newest show venue.
A bid has been launched to open a bar and host evening performances at Herne Bay store Briggsy’s, which will continue to operate as an antique retailer in the day.
The building was set to go under the hammer at the beginning of this month for as much as £525,000 - two-thirds of its original asking price in 2019.
But it was pulled from the auction after a deal was struck for the site before bidding could commence.
Its new owners have this week unveiled plans to use the High Street space – which used to be a picture house – as a shop in the day and an entertainment venue at night.
Papers submitted to Canterbury City Council state: “The plan of the new ownership is to create a multi-use space.
“During the daytime, it will operate as an antiques, collectibles and food emporium with a café.
“On selected nights, it will become a show venue using the auditorium space it was originally built for, with a licensed bar for consumption on the premises.”
Briggsy’s latest proprietors have lodged a licensing application with the city council to host live music performances and entertainment inside the property.
They are also bidding to sell alcohol on the premises, with its opening hours extended to 10.30pm.
The plans say the shows, which are expected to take place on Friday and Saturday nights, will cater for a “slightly older” audience.
They read: “The licensed bar is aimed to support the activity of the show and will be (used by) those attending the events.
“These will be shows aimed at a slightly older market, aged 30 plus, and will end at 10.30pm.”
The former picture house was erected in 1899 and was home to Washington Arcade for the next 12 years.
It opened as the Cinema de Luxe on August 7, 1911, but closed within months to undergo a major renovation.
The venue reopened on August 19, 1912 as the Bijou Theatre, screening films as well as staging variety shows and concerts on its stage.
It had another change of name in about 1919 when it became the Coliseum Cinema. In 1926 it came under the new ownership of Archibald Iggulden and the name was changed to Red Lantern Cinema.
In 1936 it was taken over by Union Cinemas chain - together with the nearby Casino Cinema - but running two cinemas in a small seaside town in the middle of winter was not profitable, so the Red Lantern Cinema was closed from September 1937.
It became a clothing factory for many years, then in more recent times a shop known as Spender’s Arcade, before becoming Briggsy’s.
The word "pictures" can still be seen in the stonework on the façade above the entrance.
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