Arun Arts loses bid for Bognor theatre

The charity put forward extensive improvements in its bid to be chosen as the preferred operator for the venue which will replace the Regis Centre in the regeneration proposals.

The ambitious scheme had to be kept confidential while the selection process was underway. But it was revealed at the latest meeting of Bognor Regis Civic Society by centre general manager Adam Cunard.

Major aspects included:

A suite of three or four meeting rooms, each the size of the centre's current room, and able to turned into one large space;

A 520 seat theatre with a full flytower as recommended by the Theatres Trust;

Four cinema screens with one 150 seat capacity, two with 100 seats and the other with 50 seats to complement the Picturedrome Cinema;

A pledge to have a 4.50 cinema ticket price in five years time;

A restaurant and two bars; and

Full backstage facilities.

A full-time paid staff would operate the building with the help of a team of volunteers.

The expansion was backed by a four-year business plan.

Adam Cunard, the centre's general manager, said: "We are extremely disappointed not to have been selected.

"Our plans all add up and any profit we made would have been ploughed back into the centre.

"There would have been no shareholders to pay and we think that has to be the best way of supporting local cinema and theatre facilities in the town."