Business owners are calling for a recently closed historic cinema to be turned into something social to revitalise a town.

The future of the New Century Cinema in Sittingbourne, which showed its last film on Thursday, is still uncertain – but some say the building could be key to bringing much needed footfall back to the high street.

Paul and Sara Seabridge, owners of The Yellow Stocks micro-pub, were saddened by its closure but hope the premises can be revamped into another social venue.

Sara, 56, said: "I can understand completely why the cinema has closed.

"People just don't come out and do things like they used to, especially since Covid.

"It's a sign of the times. People tend to stay indoors now and watch things on the telly.

"You've got everything you need at home, you can get a takeaway and you don't need to go out.

"But I really feel for the cinema because I know how hard they've tried to keep things going.

"There was a lot of volunteering involved and it's sad.

"It's another thing on the high street, which is gone."

The independent cinema, which was based in a former Odeon building, shut down at the end of its lease amid rising costs and falling trade.

Manager Clare Ralph said she was heartbroken by the decision but that she intended to host her business elsewhere if she was able to.

Speaking of her own memories of the cinema, Sara said: "We had a lot of customers who'd come in our micro-pub on their way to the cinema and they loved going there because they felt like it's a family rather than a business.

"So it's sad it's closed, same with the Mecca Bingo hall."

In August the town centre's bingo hall in the same building also closed its doors after calling numbers for almost half a century.

Paul, 59, said: "We used to see a lot of people down at the bingo, it was a social venue where people would go, but now they just sit at home online."

Sara agreed, adding: "I think that's not good for society when people don't socialise.

"The closure of the cinema is like the final nail in the coffin for this end of the high street.

"It's such a shame for the businesses down here because there are things like Kaspas ice cream parlour, whether they'll keep going I really don't know.

"Hopefully, there'll be some development at the site to draw people back to the high street again, but that isn't easy.

"Something like a grown up club with dinner, drinks and dancing would do really well.

"Sittingbourne needs somewhere with something for people over 30 to enjoy."

Paul feels that in order to do this something needs to be done about the area's public transport.

He added: "An improvement in the bus services in the town would help, there are none after five o'clock really.

"There are lots of factors that are needed to revitalise Sittingbourne but allowing people to travel without having to drive so they can have a drink is one of them."

Swale Borough Council was asked to comment about the future of the premises.

Local historian Patricia Robinson, author of Sittingbourne's Forgotten Past, explained the history of the building.

She said: "The first cinema to open in Sittingbourne was in East Street, where the old Wesleyan School building was converted into the Empire Picture Hall, later known as the Plaza.

"That was in 1910, and two years later the former Vallance and Payne Brewery behind the high street was converted and opened as the Queen's Picture Hall.

"In 1937 the first purpose-built cinema, the Odeon, on the corner of the high street and Crown Quay Lane was opened.

"It, like the Burton's building in the high street, was in the art-deco style popular at that time.

"There had been problems during its construction as the Bourne stream flowed underneath it.

"Children who attended the Odeon's Saturday Morning Club were sometimes invited to go on the stage where a hatch was lifted which let them see the water below.

"In the 1960s the Odeon Cinema was sold, before being converted into a bingo hall with cinemas upstairs.

"It was re-named New Century Cinema in 2000."

Labour councillor for the area, Ghlin Whelan, says it would be a "shame" if the building were to be demolished.

He said: "I know a few years ago, before it reopened as New Century Cinema, there were discussions about the building being turned into housing.

"But then it was decided it should be kept as a cinema. The idea for new homes could very well come up again.

"I did question how the old cinema would be able to compete with the new Light theatre that's been built.

"New Century did offer very cheap tickets but I guess because of that they couldn't make much profit." hold how I was going to compete, because sure it's very cheap. But how can I make a profit?

"Many people were saddened at its closure but it still boils down to the question of use it or lose it

"The property has been referred to as an iconic building and structure.

"I'm not sure I'd go that far would be a shame for it to be knocked down none the less."

Like Sara and Paul, Cllr Whelan believes the ever growing increase in demand for online shopping and streaming services killed the cinema's chances on the high street.

He added: "With the cost of fuel and the cost of living crisis coming together who knows what further effect there will be on the high street.

"Because a lot of people are going to struggle and they just won't come to shop or socialise.

"More businesses could end up closing."