‘What happened to our cinema?’
Tuesday 10th August 2010, 11:30AM BST.
Culture and Leisure minister Deputy Mike O’Hara enjoying a bag of popcorn on the site at Admiral Park where permission was granted for a multiplex cinema. But that permission has lapsed and no use for the area has been decided. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 1008760)
THE Culture and Leisure minister wants to know why a multiplex cinema that was approved for Admiral Park has still not been built.
Deputy Mike O’Hara said that when he spoke about youth in governance in various schools, the subject was brought up often and he had received numerous telephone calls on the matter.
‘My understanding is that a multiplex cinema was to be linked to a retail development,’ he said.
‘Here we are talking about further retail development at Leale’s Yard when there is a large site at Admiral Park for which permission has already been given but which has not been built on.’
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Quite right. It’s about time somebody broached this subject. The Mallard cinema is far too small for our Island and with more and more 3D films this is something that youngsters (who say they have nothing to do) need and the location is ideal.
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I think this is the only time I will ever agree with Mike.
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Great idea, put a massive multiplex down at Leale’s Yard and a nice shopping mall. That will be somewhere for the youngsters to congregate and as the 3D film revolution continues, us Guerns will be able to participate rather than have to go to Jersey or further afield to watch them!
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So developers with permission to build decided not to spend tens of millions on a retail development. Based on the recession and the number of vacant and closing down shops in St Peter Port and St Sampson this would appear to require little in the way of explanation.
The real mystery to me is why the Leale’s yard developers haven’t made the same decision.
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It would make a good mystery film: “The Search for the Lost Cinema”.
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Guernsey is in dire need of a great cinema the likes of which you see in London or Jersey actually. We saw a movie there a few months ago and it was packed on a Sunday afternoon. Popcorn was being made and not already in those mass marketing bags. There was drinks, hot food and lots of other goodies. We are so behind the times here with most things anyway but a multiplex cimema would be a bonus for everyone, young and old. Somebody do something. Anyone need a small investor?
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Yes about time this was brought to light again!
Good on you Mike O’Hara for not letting it be put to rest.
Guernsey cinema is an embarrassment and is badly in need of a new cinema with more than 3 screens the size of the one in my house. Don’t get me started on the poor sound quality and the fact that the seats aren’t even slanted enough so anyone in the 2nd row and behind can’t see! and would it hurt to put in some cup holders?
Stop spending our money on things we don’t agree to and actually do what the people of Guernsey want for once!
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This is the best piece of photography I have ever seen ever. The sheer breathtaking genius of whoever thought of having Deputy O’Hara ‘enjoying a bag of popcorn’ in front of an empty building plot must be commended.
I say in the Queen’s New Years Honours List.
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Maybe a decent cinema would get decent films, too… How many other cinemas in the UK utterly failed to get Inception, one of the biggest blockbusters of the year? A film that went on to be number one in the US and the UK!
And there’s still no sign of it showing up at the Mallard!
I could understand if it had an unknown star or was made by an unknown director, but both star and director have a proven track record of making decent films.
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I would occasionally like to go to a decent cinema on Guernsey too. But I’m not sure it would be a paying proposition on an island our size. Attendances at the Mallard often look pretty feeble, obviously a decent multiplex would expect more custom but whether there would be sufficient to justify such an investment is debatable.
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Sorry danno not sure what your post is about the article is about a missing cinema not a missing retail outlet
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Mike- completely agree with you there.
Luckily we were in London on the day it was released so could watch it in a fantastic cinema, but couldnt believe it when we came home and started telling friends to see it, that it wouldnt be showing in Guernsey!
Its literally like not showing Titanic when that came out.
And like you said huge British director and huge cast, the whole world is taking about it apart from poor little Guernsey.
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I think the turn out for the Mallard is so bad because so many people refuse to go. They would much rather wait for DVD or go see it in a decent cinema. Jersey has a population of around 90,000 we have around 65,000 a proportionate cinema to the population would fare well here. A 3 screen would be fine, one screen in 3D. The reason why the development didn’t go through is because someone at the top didn’t make sure a box was ticked. A quick synopsis of the discussion is as follows…
States: Ok you can develop on the land but you need to make sure there’s something there to draw in the people and also be of value to the island.
Developer: No problem, we’re going to build a big multiscreen cinema!
States: Wow, fantastic ok you got the green light!
(few years later)
Developer: Sorry we ran out of money …
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I am so pleased that somebody has finally brought up this subject, they were ver quick to develop and build the retail parts of the Admiral Park development, but when it came to the public enjoyment sector it all just got forgotten. I only go to the cinema when I am off island as I refuse to go to the Mallard, I have seen them mistreat pregnant women and wheelchair users and nothing in this world would persuade me to give them my business.
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Pity they decided to demolish the Odeon all those years ago and turn it into a car park – it still would have been better than nothing.
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I think it must be only Guerns that take a few days off to go and see as many films in Jersey/London as possible in a couple of days!
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Pot calling Kettle black, how many projects have the States debated, spent thousands on then done nothing…
Paid Parking, Waste Management etc etc
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Totally agree. A decent cinema is yet another thing we miss out on compared to nearly everywhere else I can think of.
Good old Mike. Keep at it!
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Yes Sanguine because everyone else has a decent cinema to go to.
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any danger of getting films back on at beau sejour?
why did that stop anyway?
bigger screen, more people, surely it would make more money than the mallard?? only one screen obvisouly, but still, i would rather see a film there than at the mallard any day.
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I’m not surprised the Mallard doesn’t get large numbers being as its miles from the main population areas.A cinema in or near town would be more popular,oh! we had one but it got knocked down cos some bank made them an offer they couldn’t refuse.A good example of how money can ruin peoples lives.
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I agree with Dave above, the developers got permission to build a mixture of Residential, Buisness and to sweaten the deal with the States added in the Cinema, with a KFC and PizzaHut, like the one that has been built in Jersey (which i’ve noticed is getting 3D). And then the devolpers produce some nice glossy artwork, to convince the States to vote in favour of the project.
Then when all the residential and Buisness sites are finished it all goes quiet. They’ve got the money, and are off with a big suitcase full of cash!
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@Sam
I rather think that your comments re Mike O’Hara, posing with popcorn in support of the absent cinema were made with a certain amount of tongue thrust in cheek; I do hope so, since in my view he and his comittee would do better employing their time with the likes of cruise critic Carolyn Spencer Brown’s comments, on the Cruise thread; having looked into this, and other sources, the level of information/awareness of the Island made available would appear to be scant all round. I do not know the extent of the budget but imagine that since his role is hardly politically demanding, what is available as a result, should be used in the interests of Tourism, which is after all,the mandate.
It would be great to have a second cinema up and running, but, this is down to private enterprise and as such, not a States issue.
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I. Le Page
You could always go by bus
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I.Le Page, I had to smile at your comment that the Mallard is too far away. In the UK or, in my case, on the continent, one would often have to travel much further to go to town or work or where-ever. Besides, at least you can park at the Mallard. In Town that would be a different matter.
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A nice sports bar, a nice restaurant, and a 4 screen cinema!
Makes a viable alternative for people who dont want to brave the octogon… erm sorry town, on a Friday or saturday, Admiral Park is a perfect location too!
Problem??
Oh yeah, the problem is its easier to make money back on offices and apartments, so we build them and leave the rest!!
As for the Mallard, well, I have a bigger TV at home!!
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Its all well and good everyone berating the Mallard but the owner of (sorry can’t remember his name) went on record to say to say that the Mallard was only a stop gap to help Guernsey people between the Odeon and A another. Yes its rubbish, everyone knows that but it’s an option. You dont HAVE to go if you dont want to. Why does everyone moan all the time on these forums!? Be happy people, where is moaning going to get us – Lets celebrate Mike O’Hara doing something good.
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The press ran a story on this in June 2007
http://www.thisisguernsey.com/2007/06/02/no-takers-for-shops-or-cinema/
PLANS for a retail park and cinema at Admiral Park could be under threat because of a lack of interested tenants. Work on a multi-screen cinema, shopping centre and eateries on CI Traders’ 100,000sq.ft site next to Checkers was due to start this summer. But plans are now on hold.
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Agree that we should celebrate Mike O’Hara doing something about this. Let’s also see if we can get an cinema complex that everyone wants as it has a few screens, including 3D, with a bar, food outlets etc – but also ask the developers to make it accessible to so that disbled people (pan impairment) are able to use it. My partner and I virtually never go to the Mallard as only films shown on the ground floor screens are wheelchair accessible. Not very inclusive but not necessarily their fault as a stop gap cinema. Surely in this day and age though, it wouldn’t be too hard to ask for this in a new complex? Here’s hoping!
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‘moaning’ Bart, might give us the decent size cinema we were promised in 2007.
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I believe the reason the Mallard isnt showing Inception is because they could not afford/did not want to pay for the rights to show it – which I believe are quite high. I am looking forward to going to Jsy next week for a day trip to watch Inception and have a nice bucket of KFC – finger licking good!
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Auntie GP – while we wait for the cinema / food-court issued to be resolved (read: go unresolved), here is a cracking recipe for homemade southern fried chicken:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/leesbrownbagfriedchi_91744:
cheaper than a trip to Jersey (depending on where one shops)!
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If they build a decent cinema (like the odeon) more people would go – which in turn would make more money – which in time would be enable it to pay more, for the better films. Everyone keeps complaining that children have nowhere to go / nothing to do. Bring pack SATURDAY MORNING PICTURE CLUB. FREE ENTRANCE ON YOUR BIRTHDAY FOR YOU AND A FRIEND IF YOU ARE A MEMBER. Come on Guernsey there is nothing to do anymore except to enjoy the walks on the cliffs, get drunk or pay a fortune to join a club
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Ray,doubt you’d get a bus from the north of Guernsey to the Mallard and back in the evening.Not that Id want to,I was just pointing out that with it being a bit out of the way its not going to pick up so much business.With a cinema in a more central location you’d get more people going.When I was a bit younger the Odeon and Gaumont were good places to go for a night out or take a girlfriend,so you could get away from your parents.Last time I visited the UK the town I stayed in had its multi screen cinema in one of the main shopping areas,nobody with any sense would build a cinema miles from the main population centre.Of course the Mallard saw a gap in the market and filled it till somebody comes up with a better offering.
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The developers may well have permission to build a cinema and whatever else on the site, but it will not get built unless the developer can lease the facilities to those that run cinemas, petrol stations and churn out popcorn and burgers.
Permission to build is not a legal requirement to do anything.
Property developers do not speculate on these things and will not spend millions building a cinema or anything else without a good prospect of leasing it out, especially is the current financial climate
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I. Le Page
No buses in the evening!
Last time I went to the pictures ( Cockleshell Heroes I think )there was always a fleet of buses outside or alongside the Royal Hotel
Actually that’s probably also the last time I used a bus
Surely with all the millions of taxpayers money poured into the back pocket of the present bus company they should have evening buses
What’s gone wrong?
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“Permission to build is not a legal requirement to do anything.”
You are right, it’s not. But padding out a proposal with a few community peripherals to get the primary developments through is what developers do. All part of the spin of development – throw a line and make it look a community value add and hey presto you get what you want – the office and retail earners.
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Neil
Developers are probably just taking the same line of spin used by States departments
ABC new school is passed through the States at a quote of £XYZ . After it has been built and de-snagged the final bill is usually £XYZ plus a few million
For new school you might also read new Marina,new Airport terminal,new Firemain and but for the grace of Rosie et al a new Incinerator
By the way is Rosie away on holiday? Hope she’s planting a few payback trees
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Neil, I’ve no doubt you are correct. So now the question is why those lovely planning people in the custard castle can’t see through the “padding” and perhaps introduce penalty clauses for large developers who do this sort thing then don’t follow the whole plan through.
Mind you, the way the States/Law officers work by the time anything like that gets sorted there’ll be no more land to build on over here anyway.
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yeah, sure, Mike O’Hara is everyones hero right now – til he gets rid of the flumes at Beau Sejour. People have short memories…..
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Jimmy
Don’t knock the Law Officers.They’re busy working out who owns the Cobo car park
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Yes i think its time we had a good cinema not only for young but oldies too as there is not a lot else to do especially on long winter nights. i hope the states will see it go ahead but if its the usual decision it will go out the window and they will decide on something stupid again.
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I have to say like everything on Guernsey something new is always a good thing.
The mallard is very expensive and you are all crammed into such a small space.
A new cinema would cater for a larger selection of people as it would be in a central location also.
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Along with Deputy O’Hara I would love to see a decent cinema on Guernsey; the Mallard, although a stop gap, is pretty rubbish, hence why I go approximately once a year.
I must confess though that I sniff a degree of timely spin-doctor-esque populism in his comments. Let’s not forget (as mrsb pointed out) that his department is bang smack in the middle of ditching the flumes at Beau Sejour, not to mention threatening the crèche based on some pretty ill-thought out recommendations by the Tribal report.
Let’s also remember that as this will be funded by the private sector the States aren’t the ones taking the financial risk. How convenient!
Sorry Deputy O’Hara, but although I accept in difficult times tough decisions must be made, no amount of populist commenting will paper over the fact that your department is making unpopular decisions, some of which haven’t really been thought through.
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I actually think this is quite a let down on the States part for not pushing this through and making sure the job of building a cinema got done in the first place.
Yet another nail in the States coffin, lost all confidence in this Island.
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Actually we already have a decent cinema. It is all intact and located still at Beau Sejour. Didn’t you know that Mike? And why don’t we make use of it? Oh and aren’t you the minister in charge of Beau Sejour? Glass houses any one?
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Sorry Pearl & Dean but with all due respect I think the States have got slightly more things to do than push through a cinema complex. Besides, what do you suggest they should have done? Build a cinema with taxpayers money? They can’t force anyone to build one!
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Paul I agree with you but the States should have put clauses in the tender for Admiral Park to make sure promises were not broken. And as to your comment that the States have better things to do, like what exactly, tread over old ground again and again, paid parking for instance why this is back for discussion is beyond me. Once the States have had a vote they should stick to it and then have a set time to review over a period of years and then move on to other more important issues.
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Pearl & Dean, I certainly don’t disagree with you about paid parking (in fact I like your idea of stopping it being discussed for a while!) but there are many other issues such as the economy, health, education, law & order, the environment, waste disposal etc. that demand States attention before they consider a cinema complex.
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I have a plan, Knock down custard castle, move the states into one of the many new empty buildings, use what was custard castle’s land as a carpark, rebuild the odeon and bobs your uncle.
And turn the land that was poised for the new cinema into a mutistorey carpark. While im at it knock down the bank where the gaumont once stood and rebuild the gaumont. And theres also beau se jour screen, its still there, lets reuse it, this in all would gve use 3 decent cinemas, no architects needed, origanal plans exist somewhere for the original buildings.
Or is this to simple for the states
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Dear All,
To the best of my knowledge the following are true:
The Mallard Cinema would welcome a multiplex cinema on the island. We are a small venture with limited amenities, we are constricted by our location as we are not a purpose built development.
We aim to do the very best with what we have, we were unable to show the people of Guernsey the film Inception as doing so would have meant that we were unable to show the other simultaneous big release Toy story 3. As the release was at the start of the Summer vacations we and our agent took the simple, obvious and correct decision to supply the children and a huge amount of adults with THE big film of the summer.
Had we access to another 100+ seater screen we would have been able to show Inception. The decision to not show Inception in Guernsey lies with the film distributers who choose wether to send a film to a 74 seater screen release or not.
We would not and could not object to a purpose built cinema as it would be of benefit to everyone on the Island. Our purpose is to give people the option to see and enjoy Cinema on the Island. We will do this for as long as it is viable to do so. We encourage any cultural developments on Island.
Best Wishes,
Luke Billingham
Cinema Manager
01481 266 366
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Luke, seriously that film (Inception) is rubbish mate!
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Simon, mate, clearly the rest of the world don’t think Inception is rubbish or it wouldn’t have topped the UK and US box office in it’s first week and taken $60 million in its first weekend in the US.
This forum really isnt about you bad taste in films it’s about wanting the cinema we deserve and were promised.
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Missy
The thing is, like me, they had to see it to know it was rubbish a!
This forum really isnt about my bad taste or your typo’s, but I will put up whatever I want to.
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The present cinemas are far too small and unsatisfactory if one is sitting behind a giant.
Far better to watch in the comfort of a decent seat at home.
Today’s tvs with their wide screens are ideal and a lot cheaper.
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Simon
Most people who will have to gone to see it will already be well aware of the talent of Christopher Nolen and the all star cast so therefore appreciate how original and quality the film was. Your are honestly the first person I’ve heard say Inception was rubbish.
And I’m assuming you’re from Guernsey from your ‘a’ comment in which case I feel a bit bad for you that you would have had gone out of your way to fly to Jersey/UK to go and see the film only to think it was rubbish.
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Missy
No need to be feeling bad for me, I got to see it on a trip to the UK (not especially for the purpose of seeing said movie).
Obviously you dont mix with any of the people I saw it with cuz the kindest comment between the five of us was “repetitive”.
For you it seems, the movie was good even before seeing it! (based on the reputation of those involved in the making of it). Sorry but for me its about what I think of the movie.
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Missy & Simon – get a room! Simon thought it was crap, missy thought it was great – end of story! :-)
The only relevance to this discussion is that the Guernsey public were unable to watch the movie to decide for themselves….
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the days and childhood evocation of the local odeon are gone – all that panoramic space, sultry soft red atmosphere and deep rising soundtracks are gone. (cue quiet silent back and white tear). our old wise wise men made that wonderful experience a car park for cash cow bank workers. think on this new wise men.
but … there is an increasingly successful growth in small, private cinemas across the UK and some parts of europe – some in community halls, some are even in mobile cinemas. no great luxury but the sense of community and celebration around good film is reaping rewards. locally the private beach and park movie events in recent summers were a little like this. guernsey has a cine club but it is too up-itself-serious to help the wider community. bring on the person who can amalgamate the best of all the aforementioned?
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Well done Mike for reminding the developers (and States) about this. Islanders saw the plans with restaurant and cinema and assumed the development as a whole would proceed on that basis. I believe that in other jurisdictions it is possible to tax the developer for undeveloped land where they fail to deliver – the deemed rates on the cinema would be a strong incentive to do something. I am not talking of a tax on “undeveloped land” but a fiscal reminder that if a plan is approved it needs to be completed as a whole if the site was judged as a whole. There are smaller examples all over the place: I see a plot each day which is a “car park” but was actually passed as a residential development many years ago. I have no doubt that if the developer had said “I want to flatten this site in this row of houses and then charge people to park on it” he would have been turned down. The Mallard does what it can but is punching with one hand behind its back and is not to blame. We tend to save our money for trips to the cinema when in the UK which then becomes a treat – so their local revenues do not accurately reflect potential demand.
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I’m so glad to see such a passionate response to this issue. I thought maybe i’d taken crazy pills and no one else was that bothered!
I just hope some developer sees the story and sees the demand and decides to try and make something happen.
I could be wrong but I can’t believe that a decent multiplex (based in town) would not do good business. Summer in Gsy is ace but come winter….oh dear! I think when the weather turns nasty a good cinema could make a killing!
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JohnnyWhichens – you have a point there; if nothing else this discussion has given the indication that demand for decent cinema is certainly there – and unlike other “fads” that are here today, gone tomorrow, cinema is a proven winner.
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Dear All,
Inception arrives Friday 3rd September
The Expendables arrives Friday 17th September.
Many thanks,
Luke Billingham
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Great Luke Billingham – thanks very much for info! :)
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