Herne Bay cinema faces final curtain

IN THE week it was announced cinema audiences were at a 40-year high, the curtain looked set to fall on Herne Bay's only picture house.

Staff at the Kavanagh in William Street were left facing an uncertain future after owner Reeltime Cinemas went into administration.

The two-screen cinema opened in April 1995 but could soon be sold off along with others in Westgate and Sittingbourne.

Administrator Mark Goldstein says the future of the Kavanagh and its 12 staff is under review.

He said: "Ideally we would like to sell on the cinema as a going concern.

"To do that we need to continue negotiations with film distributors and ascertain the viability of the business.

"Keeping the cinema open is the best option as it will preserve jobs and add value to the building.

"But we need to test the market and may know more in about 10 days."

Cinema manager Adrian Davis, 34, said: "We have known it was on the cards for the last couple of years. I'd obviously be gutted if we closed because this is my career.

"I have a mortgage to pay and a child to feed. It just wouldn't be good."

The father-of-one has been manager for five years and has worked for Reeltime for 11.

Since January, the cinema has offered tickets for £2.50 on Mondays and Tuesdays to get more customers.

But the opening of Vue, the multiplex cinema at Westwood Cross in Broadstairs, appears to have contributed to the Kavanagh's downfall.

Mr Davis said: "Vue opening obviously had an affect but there's certainly a lot more to it than that.

"We have actually managed to retain a lot of local families but Westgate and Sittingbourne are lost causes.

"There had been talk of selling all three as a package but I don't think that's the right move. Herne Bay is the only one with potential.

"If someone buys it on its own they can certainly make a good go of it."

Cinema history

The Casino cinema opened on May 15, 1919 on the seafront site now occupied by Talk nightclub.

It was badly damaged in 1928 after an adjoining ballroom and Tudor café were destroyed by fire.

The Odeon cinema opened on November 2, 1936 in Avenue Road.

It was one of three cinemas in the town at the time, along with the Casino and the Red Lantern in the High Street.

The Casino cinema closed on October 30, 1954.

The Odeon closed on October 8, 1987 and has since been replaced by retirement flats.

The last film shown at the Odeon was La Bamba.

There were no cinemas in Herne Bay from 1987 until the Kavanagh opened on April 14, 1995.