R&S Pride NOVEMBER 232.qxp 04/10/2021 17:09 Page 50
RUTLAND’S NEW CINEMA
A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY for the
SILVER SCREEN As Pride goes to press, champagne corks – as well as popcorn kernels – will be popping as two Rutlanders wait to hear if their vision to create Rutland Kino, a new cinema in the county, will finally come to fruition. This month, we’re getting the inside story on a golden opportunity for the silver screen... Words: Rob Davis.
GENEVIEVE MARGRETT reckons that ‘going to the movies’ is one of life’s profound pleasures, and she and Andrew Robinson – another Rutlander who’s keen on the cinema – are addressing the lack of a cinema in the county with their plan to open the Rutland Kino boutique cinema in Oakham. In true cinema tradition, it should be a ‘happily ever after’ ending, following a five-year effort to bring a dedicated cinema to Rutland after an absence of nearly 40 years. So, why’s it taken so long? Genevieve & Andrew aren’t just a couple of locals who fancy creating a cinema. Genevieve has over 15 years in communications, having worked in marketing and publicity for BAFTA and its subsidiaries like Albert, an environmental organisation funded by the industry itself which is seeking to decarbonise the film and TV industry. She also has experience working in the hospitality sector with a stint as marketing manager for Harvey Nichols’ OXO Tower Restaurant. With an initial idea, and a possible site in mind for a cinema, Genevieve put out feelers on social media, and one of the respondents
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was Andrew Robinson. Andrew was about to retire as CEO of Harkness Screens, manufacturers of the screens that films are projected onto. Adding technical knowledge to Genevieve’s marketing expertise, the two set about assessing the viability of bringing a cinema to Rutland. “We discovered there was really strong local demand, not just for the creation of a cinema in Rutland, but also for the type of cinema we envisaged. In the 1990s the rise of the multiplex ‘saved’ cinema from the decline of the previous 30 years. But these large, generally out-of-town cinemas, mainly targeted the younger demographic with blockbusters, and sold overpriced popcorn and cola.” “Our vision was a cinema which offered the technical sophistication to do modern blockbusters justice, but also a town centre location, so that other businesses located around it would benefit too. The idea is that, before or after enjoying a film, you could enjoy shopping, have a meal or go for a drink. Rutland Kino will have its own café bar, which will serve good wines, cocktails
and a food offering geared to cinema-goers. Our ambition is to sell over 1,000 tickets a week so there will be plenty of additional ‘footfall’ to benefit other businesses.” “As well as a large screen for ‘mainstream’ releases, we also wanted a second screen to provide us with further capacity and the ability to host other productions that are sometimes overlooked by multiplex cinema chains. So, we have in mind including seasons of ‘classic’ films; arthouse cinema; the screening of children’s films as well as streamed productions from the National Theatre and opera houses.” “We want to create something for everyone in the community, not just for those who want big budget films. Although we will primarily be operating a cinema and an associated café bar, we also want to include space that could accommodate local live music or art exhibitions, to extend the remit into other areas within the arts.” “Four years ago, the idea of Rutland Kino was well received locally with positive comments on social media and directly via our website.” >>
