Community-led Wiltshire cinema branded a 'huge asset' during Royal visit
It is Marlborough's first movie theatre for 50 years
A community-led Wiltshire cinema has been described as a "huge asset" by a senior member of the Royal family.
The Duchess of Cornwall visited The Parade, in Marlborough, on December 2nd.
The venue, which has been operating since September 2021, is the town's first movie theatre for 50 years.
The event saw Her Royal Highness (HRH) meet The Parade's staff members, stakeholders and other supporters, before enjoying a brief screening inside the new auditorium.
Our reporter Matt Hutchinson was there for the occasion:
The historic site was originally constructed as a chapel, for non-conformists, during the early 19th century. This permanently closed in 1984, before becoming an antiques centre for 31 years.
Since then, the building has been renovated and repurposed, now hosting a state-of-the-art cinema with more than 100 seats. The Parade also has a fully licensed bar and café, as well as a paved garden to serve food and drinks.
'I very much look forward to bringing all the grandchildren'
"It's going to be a huge asset for everybody in Marlborough, around Marlborough, in fact the whole of Wiltshire.
"I very much look forward to coming to see a film here, having my glass of wine and popcorn, and bringing all the grandchildren.
"Hopefully I'll see you (here) again," the Duchess told guests during the event.
'A town has to have a cinema'
The Parade cost around £3 million to build. Local residents collectively contributed about half of that total, by purchasing shares in the project.
Image Cinemas Ltd is the firm which revamped the facility. After the Royal visit, Greatest Hits Radio got reaction from its Chairman, Robert Hiscox.
"We polished everything, prepared everything and it went very well I think. She (HRH) is a great woman, who everybody enjoyed meeting. She's a local lady, after all.
"We're all relieved it went well and very happy that she came.
"A town has to have a cinema, what else do you do in the evening? It's a tremendous asset," he said.