Plans to resurrect Thurso Cinema
THE silver screen could return to Thurso if plans to bring back to life a derelict
cinema are successful.
West Lothian businessman Rob Arthur is interested in buying the All Star Factory and reopening the two-screen cinema at Ormlie Road.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise is hosting a public meeting on Friday at the Pentland Hotel at 7pm when Mr Arthur will explain his thoughts on bringing the cinema back into operation.
If his proposal goes ahead, the cinema will be run by his company, the Thurso Cinema Limited, and will create up to eight full-time jobs.
Mr Arthur, who has opened 30 cinemas across the UK, Ireland, Romania and Taiwan, said he has a huge passion for cinema and wants to know if there is demand in the town to create a successful business.
“The reason for a public meeting is to find out if people are interested in a cinema coming back to Thurso,” he said.
“There isn’t any point in opening a cinema if it doesn’t have any public support, but if it does then that is a good enough reason to look further into it. I am interested in setting up a cinema company in Scotland as I have spent my entire working life opening, developing and operating cinemas in central Scotland and other parts of the world.
“But I think it’s time Scotland had a cinema company that it could call its own and an area like Caithness and Sutherland is not only one of the most remote areas in the UK, but also one of the most under-served.”
The All Star Factory opened in October 2001 in a £1.5 million development that included two 152 and 88-seater screens, a six-lane bowling alley and bar, restaurant, games hall and offices.
The premises closed in September 2009, leaving Inverness as the closest mainland cinema 110 miles away.
Mr Arthur (43) is only interested in resurrecting the cinema but said other operators should look at the rest of the building.
“The cinema should be seen as a catalyst to do something with the rest of the building,” he said.
“In discussions with the developer, the cinema should be seen as providing opportunities to reopen other areas of the premises. I am a cinema person and I am only interested in operating the best cinemas possible.
“I want people to come along to the meeting and tell me what they would like the cinema to be rather than what it was before.”
The building is currently owned by Gunn Developments Ltd, which is willing to assist with the redevelopment and is keen to see the venue reopen.
HIE commissioned a feasibility study by Regional Screen Scotland which was completed in 2011 and made available to all parties interested in developing the cinema.
HIE area manager Roy Kirk said he strongly encourages anyone interested in the future of the cinema to take part in the discussion.
“The All Star Factory was an extremely important part of the community in Caithness and Sutherland and it has left a real gap since it closed,” he said.
“The Thurso Cinema Limited is keen to understand the hopes and aspirations of the community for a thriving local cinema.”
