BUILDING will start on Monday at the Regal Cinema in preparation for a return to movie screenings at the site next year. Yesterday marked the official handover of the Birmingham Gardens property from Newcastle City Council to a community trust. The cinema closed in 2006 due to building safety concerns. A community campaign saved the property from sale. Sarah Heys, daughter of the late former Newcastle lord mayor and Friends of the Regal convener Greg Heys, is volunteering her expertise as a builder to the restoration, working with project manager Christopher Saunders. A state grant will pay for the work, most of which is thought to be cosmetic. Ms Heys said her father’s link with the project made it special, ‘‘because he had such a great belief in community and community development.’’ Moviegoers are eagerly awaiting the reopening. Amanda Wood, of North Lambton, and Carol Clima, of Cardiff, joined Friends of the Regal to save the cinema they loved. ‘‘To come here and see the wonderful range of foreign film was just fantastic,’’ Mrs Clima said. ‘‘A great story, the feel of the place, I absolutely love the ambience here.’’ Mrs Wood said it was good for the community to have a place showing arthouse films and a space for creative pursuits. The building’s other proposed use is for film industry and community events.
PROJECT: Amanda Wood, of North Lambton and Carol Clima, of Cardiff in the Regal. Picture: Ryan Osland
BUILDING will start on Monday at the Regal Cinema in preparation for a return to movie screenings at the site next year.
Yesterday marked the official handover of the Birmingham Gardens property from Newcastle City Council to a community trust.
The cinema closed in 2006 due to building safety concerns.
A community campaign saved the property from sale.
Sarah Heys, daughter of the late former Newcastle lord mayor and Friends of the Regal convener Greg Heys, is volunteering her expertise as a builder to the restoration, working with project manager Christopher Saunders.
A state grant will pay for the work, most of which is thought to be cosmetic.
Ms Heys said her father’s link with the project made it special, ‘‘because he had such a great belief in community and community development.’’ Moviegoers are eagerly awaiting the reopening.
Amanda Wood, of North Lambton, and Carol Clima, of Cardiff, joined Friends of the Regal to save the cinema they loved.
‘‘To come here and see the wonderful range of foreign film was just fantastic,’’ Mrs Clima said.
‘‘A great story, the feel of the place, I absolutely love the ambience here.’’
Mrs Wood said it was good for the community to have a place showing arthouse films and a space for creative pursuits.
The building’s other proposed use is for film industry and community events.
