I met with the group wanting to open a cinema on the site of the former Chicago’s nightclub in the town.
West Midlands Community Cinema and Art Spaces wants to set up the cinema for a range of uses in the community including family screenings, event cinema, dementia and autism friendly screenings, and parent and baby films.
I met with James Anderson Brown, Diana Boateng, Sam Binks and Dave Shuck from the not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC).
I was told the aim is to not only engage cinema goers and enthusiasts but engage with local groups including schools, community groups, amateur dramatic organisations, and local festivals.
They have been working on the project for three years and plan to open the cinema at the end of the year.
These are exciting plans for a great cinema and community hub on the site of a redundant nightclub in the heart of Stourbridge and they have my full support.
There is no doubt our town has missed a cinema since the 1980s and having one back will do much to feed into my campaign for the regeneration and economic development of Stourbridge.
It will also attract visitors and I congratulate all those involved who have worked so hard to get to this point and if anyone would like to help fund the work, then please get in touch.
I look forward to its opening and to going along to watch a film and see its use as a centre of local groups as well as fans of the silver screen.
I also know the family of Ryan Passey, who tragically lost his life in a stabbing in Chicago’s in 2017, is very supportive of this new and positive lease of life for the building.
