Major expansion plans for cinema

The operator of the Picturedrome is looking to turn the building into a five screen delight for audiences.

Architects have been hired to draw up the ambitious proposals for the town centre site.

One of the new screens will replace the cafe which forms part of the Picturedrome building. The other two would be built in the rear car park of the site on the corner of Canada Grove and Linden Road.

The intentions are expected to be put on show in the next few months to enable people to comment on the scheme. Extension proposals for the Regis Centre will also be on display.

Extending the cinema will require planning permission. The undisclosed cost of the expansion, if it is approved, will be backed by London businessman Harold Winton.

He formed the Electric Theatre Company last April to take over the Picturedrome to add to the Regis Centre which his backing brought back to life the previous June.

The desire to bring more big screen action and glamour to Bognor has been prompted by soaring audiences at the Picturedrome.

Some 50,000 people a year are now going along there to almost treble the previous annual attendance figures.

In the short term, those visitors will get the benefit of a refurbishment programme in the two existing screens.

Expected to cost between 50,000-70,000, the upgrading later this year will see all the seats replaced to provide more luxury and legroom.

The changes will see the capacity reduced. Screen one is set to be cut from 364 seats to about 300. The new screen two will have about 60 seats compared the current 100.

Adam Cunard, who runs the cinema on Mr Winton's behalf, said: "The Picturedrome is doing very well.

"We want to make it even better for visitors and rival the multiplex at Chichester for comfort."

The refurbishment will be programmed to avoid too much inconvenience and temporary loss of capacity.

But Mr Cunard warned that the prospect of an entertainment venue of combined cinema/stage auditoria in the new seafront complex put forward by St Modwen would kill the Picturedrome.

"The Picturedrome will close if the new development is opened," he stated.

"There is no doubt about that. Bognor will not be able to support both places.

"People should be fully aware of that fact. The Picturedrome will very likely stand empty then.

"That will be a shame for one of the last historic cinemas in West Sussex.

"The building could never be used for a theatre because it is just not suitable.

"A museum will not work there either because there is a rent to be paid for the site."

The Picturedrome was opened in 1886 as The New Assembly Rooms and became a cinema on June 15, 1919.

It is not a listed building but is in an area recognised by Arun District Council as being of historic importance.