'Commercial' future for Bexhill cinema

The Observer reported last month how the venue closed after boss Ray Sutton, said he did not have the audience figures needed to cover the rent.

Mr Prince, who ran the cinema during the early nineties before leaving amid controversy when baliffs changed the locks in 1994, is acting as advisor to a private group who have approached agents about running the theatre.

The potential investors do not wish to be named until a deal is confirmed, but the response from agents, Maltbys, is said to be "favourable" by Mr Prince - who would act as a director and publicity manager for the new tenants should they take over the lease.

He said: "They (the potential tenants) have had no indication from the land lords as yet, but the agents have said they intend to keep it as a cinema and no one else has yet applied to run it.

"The town has been so lucky with the amount of chances the Curzon has had and it has yet another, but the people of Bexhill must stop the apathy and put bums on seats.

"It has a last chance and the way to do it is to keep having initiatives to keep people interested. It can be a community cinema that is commercially viable."

The group plan to show commercial movies with limited showings of independent film, and would seek reintroduce a Saturday morning children's club to the Curzon.

They would also hope to secure a late licence and consider improving the frontage.

Mr Prince is confident the cinema could secure the latest releases and would be cheaper than nearby movie theatres.