Work starts to build Romney Marsh's first cinema - dubbed Cinemarsh - at Marsh Academy's leisure centre
Published: 14:37, 10 October 2019
Updated: 16:52, 10 October 2019
Exciting images have been released and show how a new 'state-of-the-art' cinema will look.
The theatre - dubbed Cinemarsh - is destined for Romney Marsh, and will be the only cinema in the area.
It is being built inside the Marsh Academy's leisure centre and will include space for 46 seats.
The new cinema will feature a black and red look and is expected to be of a very high specification in terms of sound and visuals.
Construction work has now started at the site, off Station Road in New Romney, to build the movie theatre, which is planned to open in the spring.
A new foyer will also be built, and will sell 'affordable' snacks and drinks to visitors, which will include students and members of the public.
A statement from the school said: "The Marsh Academy has announced that building work has started on an ambitious new student and community facility: Cinemarsh.
"To be located in the Academy’s leisure centre, Cinemarsh is a 46 seat, state- of-the-art, independent cinema that will show films shortly after mainstream release.
"Ticket costs and confectionary prices will be affordable for the local community and revenues from the project will be channelled into education, job creation and additional facilities.
"There will be a number of employment and volunteering opportunities aimed at helping people get back to work or into work for the first time."
Planning permission for the project was not needed as the leisure centre will not be changing its use.
But the existing changing rooms and toilets are being re-located to another part of the leisure centre, which has 1,000 members, to make way for the cinema.
Equipment will come from Sound Associates and Eomac, two distributors and installers for the cinema industry.
The project has been in the pipeline for five years; it was previously hoped it would be opened in 2018.
It will be the only cinema located on Romney Marsh.
At the moment film fans have to travel to either Folkestone or Ashford to catch a blockbuster, or to the Kino in Rye, east Sussex - all around 30 minutes from New Romney by car.
The cinema has been made possible due to several grants from Magnox, The Garfield Weston Foundation Weston Anniversary Fund, LEADER, The Foyle Foundation and the combined funding of The Overstone Fund and Kent Reliance Provident Society Fund through the Kent Community Foundation.
Nigel Monckton, Magnox socio-economic manager, said: "This project fits well with one of Magnox’s funding aims to help build sustainable communities and we are pleased to be able to be a partner in this project which will be a real benefit to the local community.
"We look forward to its completion in the near future."
The project has also been supported by groups such as The Coastal Community Team and The Romney Marsh Partnership.
A spokesman for the school added: "All of the funders have been extremely generous and each of them has been crucial in helping us to make this project happen."
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Sam Williams