Council leader confirms £200k underspend on new cinema
Redcar and Cleveland Council leader Mary Lanigan has confirmed there was a £200,000 underspend on the £9.6m project to build a new Regent cinema.
Councillor Lanigan was asked what the bill would be for required alterations to the venue on Redcar seafront after new operator Merlin said changes were required to the foyer area in order to accommodate sufficient space for snacks and refreshments to be sold.
The council leader also revealed that there had been more than 700 applicants for roles at the cinema, which has replaced the old Regent, and “everyone is now in place”.
Merlin has described a “minor hiccup at the last hurdle” and said it would supply the equipment required, it just needed the council to provide the space.
Cllr Lanigan said: “Making minor alterations to accommodate the operator’s individual requirements was always expected and has been budgeted for.
“We don’t have final costings for the works, but there is currently about £200,000 of budgeted provision remaining, although we anticipate the actual cost will be well below that.
“Recruitment and training of the Merlin team is currently underway and aligns with minor work schedules.
“These alterations will not result in any delay with the venue opening.”
Councillor Alec Brown, leader of the Labour group on the authority, asked why the venue was originally built with a “theatre/art style foyer” as opposed to a cinema foyer and whether this was an oversight.
He also suggested “important details” had not been paid attention to.
Cllr Lanigan said: “When planning and everything went in, it was designed for a small cinema.
“Sometimes when you get operators in they want changes and will say ‘This isn’t right, or that isn’t right’.
“My understanding of this is that these matters will be dealt with quite quickly and the cinema will be opening as per schedule.”
The new cinema has three screens and can seat up to 200 people and also includes a licensed bar with spectacular sea views and an events space for the public to use.
It was paid for by funding from the Tees Valley Combined Authority and handed over to the council by BAM Construction earlier this year.
A representative of Merlin Cinemas previously said on Facebook the “wonderful new complex” would be opened sometime toward the middle to the end of October, just in time for half term.