Scarborough's Odeon cinema should have been multiscreen

I read your interest your report on the delay of the North Bay cinema in the Scarborough News edition of September 13.
We may have still a multi-screen Odeon and a Futurist Theatre if it was not for the council.We may have still a multi-screen Odeon and a Futurist Theatre if it was not for the council.
We may have still a multi-screen Odeon and a Futurist Theatre if it was not for the council.

In the late 1980s, the town centre had an Odeon Cinema which needed investment, the operator at the time was prepared to put in a triple screen, however as it was a listed building the plans were expensively amended to cater for this. The council turned this plan down and the Odeon closed. The building was turned into a theatre and ruined the building for which it was listed for.

Now we have the Futurist, which a long battle was fought, and the council eventually got its way and was demolished for something which I don’t think will last as long as the Futurist did.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Futurist was a successful venue and had it had a longer lease would have been more successful.

Most councils support venues like the Odeon and Futurist – sadly not Scarborough Council.

We may have still a multi-screen Odeon and a Futurist Theatre if it was not for the council. Yes, there may be a multiplex planned for Scarborough’s North Bay, but many people have doubts that it will happen and it won’t be in a very good location where it is planned.

TJ McCullen

Castle Drive, Kemsing

Sevenoaks, Kent