New 10-screen cinema plan for Plymouth

THE city centre's famous Reel Cinema may be knocked down and replaced by a 10-screen multiplex.

The construction firm which owns the Reel chain is in talks about swapping the outdated 1938 picture house, at Derry's Cross, with a '21st Century' development.

The scheme, which needs planning consent, is in the early stages but negotiations with the council, staff and 'other parties' are continuing. It is understood the cinema will close on October 2.

It has also emerged that developers have been eyeing the neighbouring Plymouth Athenaeum, possibly as part of the cinema development.

Although construction of flats and houses has been slowed by the 'credit crunch', as detailed inside The Herald today, the commercial sector is healthier.

But the Athenaeum today insisted it is not for sale and intends to be in situ to celebrate its double centenary in 2012.

Loughborough-based 3R Construction and Property Development owns the 16-cinema Reel chain.

Managing director Kailesh Suri today told The Herald: “We will be developing and will have a new cinema on it.

“It depends on planning permission. We are in the consultation stage.”

He said the aim was to 'take the cinema to the next stage'.

“It needs modernisation. We have to bring it to the 21st Century.”

Mr Suri said the new multiplex could have five, seven or 10 screens, depending on how many could be fitted onto the site and 'on the market'. The current cinema has had three screens since 1976, including the 582-seat main auditorium, the largest in Plymouth.

Mr Suri would not be drawn on costings for the site, but when the nearby Drake Odeon Cinema was demolished and replaced with a casino, in 2003, it cost £7million.

The Reel Cinema, formerly the ABC, is the only one left from the golden age of pictures when Plymouth boasted numerous big screens and flea pits.

The Beatles famously played at the venue in the 1960s.

But it is now seen as out-of-date and has suffered from competition from the Vue complex at Coxside.

A new multiplex would be welcomed by city centre traders anxious for more attractions to draw in families.

Ray Robins, chairman of the Cornwall Street Shopkeepers' Association and the Pannier Market Traders' Association, said: “Anything that brings any kind of activity back to the city centre has got to be good.

“We don't just want people to rush in, do their shopping and rush out again – we want them to stop for a cup of coffee or go to the pictures.”

Last week, The Herald revealed that Reel staff are understood to be facing redundancy. Bosses are refusing to confirm or deny this.

Meanwhile, Athenaeum president Jo Power said: “The Athenaeum is not closing and we are looking forward to our 200th anniversary in 2012.

“We have had developers interested in taking us over but we are staying exactly as we are. People are interested in the site but we are not selling.”