An iconic Ayrshire cinema is hoping to swing open its doors again thanks to backing from a hospitality giant.
Buzzworks Holdings have given the green light to a charity to apply for community ownership of the Broadway cinema in Prestwick.
Charity Friends of Broadway Prestwick have this week secured a licence to occupy the building.
Chiefs at the chain which owns Vic’s & The Vine and Lido in the town took over the Broadway in 2005 hoping to transform it into a nightclub and hotel.
But plans fell through and the Category C Listed building has lain dormant ever since.
Now Friends of Broadway Prestwick hope to revive the old picture house giving it a stunning comeback worthy of a Hollywood script.
And their latest hurdle will pave the way for obtaining the funding needed to restore the Broadway in its entirety, creating an exciting neighbourhood cinema, local venue and inclusive community space.
Kyle Macfarlane, one of the Directors of Friends of the Broadway Prestwick, said: “The front entrance doors have been shut and boarded over for almost 20 years.
“They don’t just hide the amazing interior of the building, but also the hard work taking place behind the scenes to bring the Broadway back for the community.
“Signing a licence to occupy the building means we can reopen those doors. This is a massive step forward for the future of the Broadway as our project enters its next chapter.
“We have been very fortunate to have Buzzworks’ backing in securing the licence to occupy the building, and this ultimately paves the way for our group to ensure this valuable piece of Prestwick’s heritage is restored to its former glory.”
The Broadway first opened to filmgoers on April 29, 1935, with the audience treated to a grand opening ceremony and the film “The Barretts of Wimpole Street.”
It also served briefly as a bingo, but was last used to screen blockbusters in 1976, with a showing of “One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest”, showed on November 20 of that year.
In 1983 the Broadway was converted into an amusement arcade and leisure facility and even boosted squash courts in the former auditorium. It operated as the Prestwick Leisure Centre until 2003.
Buzzworks took over the venue in 2005 but their ambitious plans came grinding to a halt.
Instead Buzzworks chief, Colin Blair, joined forces with Friends of the Broadway to ensure the latest project came to fruition.
A spokesperson for Buzzworks said: “The Broadway is a unique survivor from the golden era of films, and we were more than happy to lend our support in helping to give back this institution to the local community.”
Stuart Cairns, Chair of Friends of the Broadway Prestwick, added: “This moment has been long awaited. We are incredibly grateful to Colin Blair for working with us to help bring this community asset back.
“Having a licence to occupy means we can get to work caring for, maintaining, and preserving the Broadway cinema.
“It also makes us eligible for the funding needed to purchase and restore the Broadway to its former glory for all the community to enjoy.
“The neighbourhood cinema sector is growing. South Ayrshire is under-served by cinemas, and the evidence shows that audiences want something more local, more evocative, more inclusive, and more personal.
“Friends of the Broadway Prestwick are working with other successful venues and have been inspired by their stories of sell out audiences and films having to come back by popular demand.”
Read next:
- Family's newbuild nightmare as garden swamp 'blamed' on child and dogs
- Car dealership's cheeky rebrand after BMW ban showroom from using word 'Mini'
- Scared parents and kids hide from pack of dogs 'on the loose' outside nursery
- Luxury Ayrshire hotel to feature in Gordon Ramsay's latest BBC series of Future Food Stars
Don't miss the latest Ayrshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter here
