Cinema shuts a month after relaunch

By [fsalter]

FREEMAN Street's Regal Cinema has closed its doors once more – just one month after its grand reopening.

As reported, the former Odeon Cinema was renovated and reopened on August 7 by Shropshire businessman Trevor Harris and his son Anthony – eight years after the last film was shown there in 2001.

But now, the venture has been halted, with the Harrises claiming they had faced "problem after problem".

Trevor, 70, who has operated cinemas across the country, said he had to battle flooding, damp and problems with the sewers – leaving him thousands of pounds out of pocket, though he would not confirm the exact amount.

He said: "When I negotiated the lease on the property, I was told everything was working and in good condition.

"When we moved in, everything just started to go wrong. I was forced to pay for a lot of repair work that I wasn't expecting to.

"I'm not very happy at all. I've invested a lot of time and money into this project and there has just been one mass of problems.

"The property should never have been leased in the state that it is.

"I don't know whether I will even stay in the industry any longer. I won't be coming back to this area in a hurry.

"This has really been a very bad experience."

He said the building needed £60,000 to £70,000 spending on it to restore it to its former glory.

He said he did not believe the Regal would reopen as a cinema.

Duncan Willey, a partner at PPH commercial, the agent dealing with the property, said Mr Harris's allegations were "unjust".

He said: "This is a very difficult and complicated situation, but it is very unjust for Mr Harris to make these claims.

"The cinema has obviously closed, but it is due to be remarketed shortly. It is naturally disappointing seeing as money was involved."

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