Film-lovers have had to wait almost 40 years – but on Friday, February 2 the doors of the town’s new REEL cinema will open its doors at the heart of the Brightwells Yard development.
Ghostbusters, Gremlins and Teen Wolf were showing when the town’s last bespoke cinema, the Regal in East Street, closed its doors suddenly in September 1985.
And when the trailers finish rolling on opening night next month, it will be Argylle, Migration and Mean Girls pulling in the crowds after the Farnham cinema became the first in the UK to publish listings for the February blockbusters this week.
Tickets have also now gone on sale, and at the time of writing more than 150 had already been sold – raising hopes of an opening weekend sell-out.
The long-anticipated opening of Farnham’s new REEL six-screen multiplex also marks a huge milestone for the Brightwells development itself – being the first commercial unit to begin trading in the troubled scheme.
The redevelopment of land south of East Street has been talked about – and argued over – for decades and it has taken a staggering 21 years for Crest Nicholson to open Brightwells’ first non-residential unit since winning the tender from Waverley Borough Council in 2003.
But with the opening of the cinema – and restaurants, cafes, shops, gym and more to follow – the economic recovery of the eastern end of Farnham town centre has now begun.
Already the new REEL cinema has generated 30 new jobs ahead of its February 2 opening – with many of the young recruits attending a training day on the afternoon of the Herald’s site visit coming from the nearby University for the Creative Arts.
And REEL’s competitive pricing and family-friendly focus will surely REEL in plenty of film-lovers – not just from Farnham, but the towns and villages beyond too.
This is not a top-end, Curzon or EveryMan type cinema, charging £18 a ticket and offering ‘smashed’ burgers and craft beer direct to your seat.
Tickets are priced at just £3.99 for screenings before 1pm (‘REEL Movie Madness’) and a reasonable £6.99 (children 12 and under) or £8.99 (adults) later in the day.
There is though a lap of luxury on offer for those who desire it. For £11.99 a ticket, one of the six screens – the plush REEL Lounge – offers signature sofas, armchairs and even foot-stalls, with the opportunity to pre-order food and drinks to your seat.
As well as the 106 upholstered Lounge chairs, the cinema offers 523 extremely comfortable, faux leather seats in its five ‘standard’ screens – and disabled seating too.
Wheelchair users can be accompanied by a registered carer free-of-charge.
Each screen features top-of-the-range Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound and energy-efficient laser projectors, with a resolution equivalent to the old 70mm film projectors.
Tickets can be collected or bought at three automated ticket machines – or the food and drink kiosk. And unlike in 1985, film posters and trailers are shown on ever-changing plasma screens throughout – not plastered on walls.
REEL’s food offer ranges from pizza, hot dogs and nachos to popcorn and Italian gelato, while locally-sourced ales will add to a well-stocked bar menu. There are also self-serve soft drinks, Tango Ice Blast, and all the hot drinks and sweets you would expect.
REEL has expressed a great desire to engage with the community and dozens of local charities have been invited to free screenings to launch the cinema in its opening week.
The cinema is also actively forging connections with local entities such as the U3A, schools, the University of Creative Arts, and the Farnham Business Improvement District board.
And it is calling on film-lovers to sign-up to REEL Farnham’s newsletter at https://reelcinemas.co.uk/farnham to receive the latest offers and film information.