Ollerton Town Cinema Provision

Description

Newark & Sherwood District Council sought an operator for the new Ollerton town centre cinema, scheduled to open in 2028. The cinema forms a key element of the wider town centre regeneration project, funded primarily by the Local Regeneration Fund. The scheme will deliver modern, accessible employment floorspace alongside new retail, café, and residential units. It will also create a revitalised town centre set within an open and inclusive public realm, designed to host local markets, events, and community activities. The selected operator will have the opportunity to contribute to the cinema's design and development, working collaboratively with local stakeholders to ensure that the venue becomes a popular and well used community asset. Two tender processes were initiated in April 2024 and October 2025, but no acceptable submissions were received. Since the tender process in October 2025, the Council has now decided to directly award the contract to a single provider, for the reasons and outline terms stated below: • Appropriate scale and investment: A 2 screen (158 seat) cinema with café space is considered suitable for Ollerton. Delivery will be supported by a landlord capital contribution of a maximum of £1,600,000 towards fit out costs, subject to compliance with local authority funding regulations. • Viable rental terms: A minimum rent of £36,000 per annum, plus service charges, falls within the acceptable range set out in the project's full business case, including a rent free period of up to 18 months. • Affordable ticket pricing: The proposed ticket prices, averaging no more than £10, ensures the cinema remains accessible and affordable for the local community. • Balanced programme offer: The operator proposes a mix of mainstream films alongside a strong cultural programme, drawing on their extensive experience. This will include special screenings, curated events, and community focused programming designed to broaden audience engagement. • Financial stability: Company checks indicate a strong financial position, with a rating of 'A', providing confidence in the operator's resilience and capacity to deliver a high quality cinema offer. This falls within the Council's required financial score of between A-C. • Community focused approach: The operator's commitment to local engagement aligns with the wider objectives of the regeneration scheme, including participation in community events and support for developing public realm activities. • Ability to work at pace: The preferred operator has demonstrated the ability to progress rapidly and work with a high level of detail, which is critical to meeting the project's operational and programme requirements. They are able to respond swiftly to information requests and maintain momentum throughout the development period.