Tenterden Cinema Ltd was set up in January 2020 by members of the Cinema Focus Group as a means of implementing its advice and – we expected – converting the Pebbles building on the High Street to create a two-screen neighbourhood cinema with café and community facilities.
Unfortunately, changes to the scheme to meet Historic England’s requirements for the preservation of the listed building were impractical and unaffordable. So since early 2021, we have been looking for an alternative. The trustees of Highbury Hall have now rejected our ideas for a not-for-profit Community Interest Company to redevelop the site with them to provide a cinema and new hall, and we have been unable to identify any other viable location.
We have therefore decided to wind up Tenterden Cinema Ltd and advised Tenterden Town Council that it is time to dissolve the Focus Group.
We remain convinced that Tenterden needs a neighbourhood cinema and hope that, one day, a suitable venue and source of finance will be found. In the meantime, there is nothing more we can do. We would like to thank everyone who has put so much time and effort into the project since the Focus Group was set up five years ago. We would particularly like to acknowledge the efforts and support of Sue Ferguson, both as a Councillor and in her private capacity.
We would also like to state publicly that none of the directors of Tenterden Cinema Ltd have profited from the company in any way, but have met the costs of creating, operating and closing the company from their own pockets.
Tom Evans
Chairman, on behalf of the Directors of Tenterden Cinema Ltd
27 September 2022