Cinema screenings could return to Clacton (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

Cinema screenings could return to Clacton

11:00am Thursday 24th January 2013 in News

BIG screen films could return to Clacton at one of the town’s theatres.

The last cinema in Clacton, Flicks, closed down at the end of last year, forcing people to travel to Colchester or Ipswich.

But Tendring Council is now exploring the idea of screening mainstream films at the Princes Theatre.

The idea came after a one-off film night at the theatre, where rare historical footage of Clacton was shown as part of a heritage project.

It was hailed as a success, with more than 300 people turning up to watch the historical films.

Council cabinet spokesman Paul Honeywood said: “The feedback we received from those 312 people who turned out on a very cold night was excellent and it is definitely something we will be looking at again for the future.

“With Clacton’s last cinema having closed before Christmas it may be that the Princes Theatre can help fill the gap by screening films on a regular basis.

“There is a real potential here for another use of the Princes and it is something that we need to investigate.”

Entry to the film night was free, but the council took more than £200 in refreshment sales.

A group of residents set up an organisation in a bid to save Flicks before it closed.

Since the closure they have been working to find alternative options for the town.

Spokesman Alan Penney said: “The Princes Theatre is a fantastic venue and if they could get this idea off the ground they would certainly have our backings.

“It is a fantastic idea and definitely one of the options well worth exploring."