COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

There have been question marks hanging over it after the building it was supposed to be in was renamed a 'leisure box'



Plans for a new cinema in Nuneaton town centre have been scrapped. Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council has said it has 'exited' the lease agreement for the cinema on the huge Grayson Place regeneration in the Abbey Street area.

It had entered into an agreement with the Really Local Group (RLG) back in 2023 for the independent operator to run the cinema. But the Town Hall has said that a 'review of the current market and project outputs' has led to it negotiating an exit.

The writing was on the wall when, last week, the council's official reports no longer referred to the building as the 'cinema' and described it as a 'leisure box' instead. Also, it is no secret that the RLG has seen some of its trading arms go into liquidation.

But what would have been the cinema is still under construction and the large grey building can be seen rising into the skyline from parts of Queens Road and Jubilee Way. Now the council says it is looking to find an 'alternative leisure provision' to make the brand new building its home.

The Town Hall says that it hopes to confirm a new offer and operator 'in due course.' Council leader, councillor Chris Watkins, said: "This development is a huge opportunity to regenerate our town centre, and there's only one opportunity to get the right output.

"The council will work towards securing a new use for the site, to create the best leisure offer for our residents and visitors to the borough."

In a statement, the Really Local Group said: "We are disappointed that Really Local Group will not have the opportunity to open in Nuneaton as forecast.

"But we respect the fact the council and its development partner have decided to take this project in a different direction than originally planned. On this basis it only seems reasonable we cooperate with them, as working with local community leaders is a core value of our organisation."

Council break lease agreement for new cinema



A lease agreement for a new cinema that was part of a regeneration scheme in Nuneaton has seen the council pull out of the deal.

Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council confirmed it had left the agreement with Really Local Group by mutual consent this week.

The facility was due to be built in the "leisure box", a part of a £30m regeneration plan in the Abbey Street area of the town that is currently under construction.

The council said the decision had come after "a review of the current market and project outputs", with the developer saying it was disappointed about the move.

Council officials initially entered the agreement with the Really Local Group in 2023.

The group, which specialises in building cinemas and entertainment spaces, said it was "really disappointed" not to be able to continue with the project.

"We respect the fact the council and its development partner have decided to take this project in a different direction than originally planned," it said.

"On this basis, it only seems reasonable we cooperate with them, as working with local community leaders is a core value of our organisation.''

The council said its development partner, Queensberry, will now look to find an alternative use for the "leisure box".

Chris Watkins, leader of the council, said: "The council will work towards securing a new use for the site, to create the best leisure offer for our residents and visitors to the borough.''