The Abbeygate Cinema/No.4 Restaurant & Bar may be currently closed to the public due to the COVID-19 emergency, but behind the scenes some exciting renovation work is continuing at a steady, safe and socially-distanced pace.

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Chris Peters, Project Manager for Abbeygate Cinema explains – “We were devastated to close our doors to the public last month, but the Abbeygate is never quiet for long.  Over these recent weeks we’ve had carpenters, electricians, carpet and seat installers all taking their turns coming in to the old Bingo Hall to continue our new auditorium fit out.  Our tailor-made screen frame is now in, and over the coming weeks our state-of-the-art 4K laser Projection system will be installed”.

Mr Peters continued – “This is a difficult time for many businesses and cinema is particularly hit by the pandemic. But, all around the world, smart cinemas are using this time to clean, decorate, refurbish and redevelop so that when cinema-going returns, we’re in the best possible shape to welcome our customers back to an even better experience”.

“Here at the Abbeygate we are going further than originally intended with our new auditorium” Mr Peters added.  “We were going to open it in Spring in a bare bones “Pop Up” format just to temporarily run some fund-raising screenings, launching with the new James Bond film. But in the circumstances we now find ourselves, we’re pushing on with the work so the auditorium will be as close to finished as possible when we re-open to the public.  That way we’ll have three screens open to show all the films that have been delayed due to the pandemic.  The film release calendar will be ‘compressed’ now for the rest of this year right into 2021 and when restrictions start to get lifted, people will be wanting to get out and see films at the cinema, so what cinemas will need is more screens and seats – and that’s exactly what we’ll have!”

Mr Peters went further – “As well as the new auditorium, we’re also making some major changes to the Projection system in Screen 2.  Currently this is a ‘periscope’ system built for mirrored projection, so, we’re changing the structure of the box and installing a projector that beams directly onto the screen – we’ll get a much better image as a result which we hope our customers will appreciate.  Plus, Annie Plumb Interiors are doing a great job rejuvenating the Bar seating for us. We’re also decorating other spaces, and doing loads of other small jobs.  We really want our customers to feel the place has been refreshed and updated when they walk back in”.

The Abbeygate currently has a fundraising campaign running – “2020 Building Blocks” – where customers can support their expansion by making a donation. Any donation amount is gratefully received. And a voluntary donation of £50 or more will be acknowledged with the opportunity for the contributor’s name to be etched into a wooden block which will form part of an installation artwork piece in the new part of the building.

“We have been so pleased with the public response to this campaign” Mr Peters commented. “At the moment we have nearly 400 names to go up on the wall.  It would be great if we could top 500!  Since we’ve been closed last month, we’ve seen a real spike in people donating to the Building Blocks campaign, or purchasing Gift Vouchers. It all helps and we’re so grateful to every one of our supporters.  We’d like to say a big Thank You and hope we can welcome people back to see us very soon.