£100k makeover for Cannock's Electric Palace Picture House
Cannock's Electric Palace Picture House is to undergo a £100,000 refurbishment, it can be revealed today, after the building was sold to a mystery buyer for £175,000.
A 10-year-lease has been secured on the building and it will now be revamped with modern facilities.
New men's toilets have already been fitted and new women's toilets will be installed this week. New seats, carpets and signs will be put in over the next three months and the Walsall Road venue will also be redecorated.
The move will also be the end of an era for traditional reel film and projection in the town, with an £80,000 switchover to digital systems likely after the summer.
Under a five-year-plan, a third 100-seater screen could be built on the current balcony area in screen one.
The previous owners, developers Pritchard, sold the cinema at auction with the new owner yet to be revealed.
Manager Graeme Cotton, who has run the cinema since 2009, said cinema-goers would get an improved experience.
He said: "Because we were only given short leases in the past, it was difficult for me to invest money in the place as we never knew how long we would be here. But now we have signed a 10-year lease we've decided to bring the cinema into the 21st century."
Mr Cotton added: "I will be very sentimental when the projectors go. There is something special about the traditional reels and handling the film. But the industry has decided to move to digital and we have to move with it."
The cinema was closed as the new men's toilets were fitted but reopened on Friday. Films will continue to be shown during the evenings with most of the work taking place during the day.
