The public are being given a chance to view revised proposals for the New Picture House Cinema in St Andrews, which is being redeveloped by a company backed by Justin Timberlake and Tiger Woods.
In response to community feedback, two out of three screens, including the main auditorium, are to be retained as part of T-Squared Social’s proposals for the cinema, which will also maintain the New Picture House name.
However, the cinema in St Andrews has not been viable for several years, running at under 10% occupancy, and was therefore faced with a decision to close or adapt.
Christopher Anand, managing partner for T-Squared Social, said: “We have listened to the residents of St Andrews and are delighted to be announcing our intention to increase the number of screens, including retaining the main auditorium.
“With our new entertainment concept, sitting alongside the cinema, this will ensure that a cinema offering can remain in the town for this and for generations to come.
“In addition, the development will deliver a significant economic investment in the town, with 40 to 50 staff employed, an increase on the current 10, who will also be given the opportunity to stay with the new venture.”
One of the screens will be maintained in its present form (Cinema 3), with improvements made to the seating and technology to improve the viewing experience. Current seating in cinema two will be replaced with more comfortable seat groupings, allowing people to socialise, with an area for electronic darts.
The main auditorium (Cinema 1) will retain its large screen, still showing films, but also able to host sports simulators including golf, rugby, lacrosse and football. The seating will be flexible, allowing the aspect of the seats to change depending on the use of the auditorium on a day-to-day basis.
The character of the auditorium will be protected, with existing ceiling, walls and stage features retained, while the much-loved upper level of the cinema will be staying as it is today, with over 300 seats retained in the venue for cinema goers. In fact, across the redevelopment.
David Morris, managing director for New Picture House, will stay and manage the transition to the new venture: “This intervention by T-Squared not only allows a cinema offering to be retained for the town, but indeed the building itself,“ he said. “This was not a decision we took lightly, and we felt that this was the right company to preserve what we have built up over almost 100 years.”
