Largs Community Council's hopes to bring cinema to town

Earlier this year, Largs Community Council wanted to look at bringing new amenities to Largs, and one of the suggestions was bringing back a cinema.

After efforts at trying to bring the Screen Machine to Millport after it ruled out visits to the Isle of Cumbrae as its new mobile cinema couldn't property access the island, the community council has turned its attentions to finding a local facility.

Member Patricia Perman has explored the matter, and spoke to Fairlie Community Association, which runs the village hall, as it hosts a cinema in the village.

She said: "The cinema isn't a regular thing in Fairlie, and it is in the village hall.

"I have been in touch with KA Leisure and we could get the cinema on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, at the school campus.

"We'd be looking to start the films at 6.30pm as they have to be finished by 9pm."

Community council chair Jim Phillips asked if it was going to be practical.

Patricia said it costed £25 per hour for three hours, and licensing premises which is £100 for the film bank to show a film.

She said: "I was suggesting we try it for one go and see how it goes and see what the response is."

Member of the public Frank Alexander suggested that people should be asked for a donation rather than a charge to see a community cinema.

He said: "If you show Barbie, you might get the numbers, and people will willingly pay."

Patricia said: "I can actually get Barbie for later this year for showing."

Wendy Low Thomson asked if the Vallahalladrome could be used for the screenings.

However, Patricia, who is a member of Largs Film Society, based at the Vallhalladrome, suggested that the school was much better as it had a much bigger screen with Dolby sound.

She said: "It is a fantastic facility, and the school has shown their own films on it in the past."

Patricia explained that she can get virtually any film which can be ordered, from classics, to more recent releases, albeit not immediately.

Margaret Wood suggested that popular movies such as Mission Impossible and Barbie would gain a bigger cross section of the community.

Linda Smith suggested Wednesday nights would probably be best for showings.

Community council chair Jim Philips asked Patricia to explore the matter further and report back at their next meeting.

The last fully operating cinema in Largs was based within Barrfields Theatre at Vikingar which showed classics such as Titanic, Saving Private Ryan and Moulin Rouge, and the very first Mission Impossible film starring Tom Cruise, but it closed over 20 years ago.

The town also had the iconic and architectural gem, the Viking Cinema building, which closed its doors in 1973, showing the likes of classic James Bond movies starring Sean Connery, and one of its last ever films was 'Dirty Harry' starring Clint Eastwood before closing its doors.