Cinema to stay open – for now (From Thisisdorset)

Cinema to stay open – for now

10:22am Saturday 30th August 2008 in News By Miriam Phillips

THE Plaza cinema bosses have quashed rumours that it will close as the freehold goes up for sale in Dorchester.

The historic cinema run by Reeltime Cinemas in Trinity Street will stay put for at least two more years, assures managing director Mike Vickers.

"The landowners have put the freehold up for sale but we have a lease that will stay on the building so business will go on as usual," he said.

The freehold for the Plaza is on the market for £270,000 with Holloway Agents and it is currently leased to Reeltime Cinemas for £25,000 a year for the next 15 years.

A spokesperson for Holloway Agents said: "There is one serious interest for the Plaza building and the owner is considering this offer at the moment."

Meanwhile, building work is continuing at the Old Brewery Development in Dorchester where developers plan to build a three-screen cinema with an outdoor showing area that is due to open in two years.

Andrew Wadsworth, director of developer Brewery Square Ltd, said: "Everything is still on for the cinema here and we are currently looking at bids to manage it."

The Plaza cinema was built for £20,000 in 1933 and has been visited by famous film stars including Douglas Fairbanks and Gracie Fields.

Despite fears in 1991 that the cinema would close when Weymouth Cineworld was built, it stayed open and then in 1997 a plan failed to turn it into a multiplex cinema.

It has been given two major facelifts, in 1996 and 2001, and now the two-screen building shows all the latest films.

The building is licensed for cinema, dance and music.