Redcar's Regent signs deal with Merlin Cinemas

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has reached an agreement with Merlin Cinemas to operate out of the newly renovated Regent Cinema in Redcar.  

But final preparations still need to take place for the new facility to open, such as recruiting and training a team of staff at the seafront site. 

Once opened, a standard adult ticket could cost around £8.50, a child ticket £6.50 and a senior £7.50, but local people are urged to take advantage of a Magic Movie Card, which would discount tickets to around £6 for adults, £5.50 for senior adults and £4.50 for children. 

The Regent is home to three screen rooms with state-of-the-art audio-visual technology, and the auditoria include allocated disabled spaces.

Its second-floor screen room and café-bar, with panoramic views of the stunning coastline and a sheltered terrace, are all fully accessible via a lift.

As with the old cinema, parking is available on Turner Street, Newcomen Terrace and Station Road, with several bus stops and the train station all within a short walking distance.

Construction of the £9.6million Regent was part of the £20million ‘Welcome to Redcar’ programme funded by the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority.

The Regent is home to three screen rooms with state-of-the-art audio-visual technology, and the auditoria include allocated disabled spaces

Cllr Chris Gallacher, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth at the council explained: “It has been a really tumultuous time for cinemas up and down the country due to the pandemic, but things are certainly looking brighter, and we are absolutely over the moon that Merlin Cinemas have been named as the operator.

“They have vast experience in this area and run cinemas in coastal towns across the country.

“We are so looking forward to welcoming many people back to the Regent, and we want to thank our residents for being so patient with us while we finalised the plans. We do ask for a bit more patience while the operator gets ready to open. We will soon see you at the movies!”

And Cllr Neil Baldwin, ward member for Coatham, added: “It’s a great achievement that the Regent project has been delivered within budget and that many efforts were made to keep investment local through the procurement process, trying to create as many opportunities for local suppliers as possible.

“When we went out to consult on what the public wanted, they told us a cinema that’s affordable, so I’m really pleased that admission prices will be kept affordable through Merlin’s ticket system. I look forward to opening day.”