Topic ID 304
I have been living in Hertford since 1983 and think it is a wonderful place to live, its only problem is that it does not have a cinema. There are so many restaurants etc., so Hertford is seen as a wonderful place to go for a night out.... so a cinema please.[:)]
Reply ID 2017
Absolutely I was amazed to not find a cinema here!
Reply ID 2020
We fall in to the catchment area of cinemas in Harlow and Stevenage. Lack of a decent site and the relatively small local population make operators reluctant to open anything in the town.
Reply ID 2024
I have heard from a few different sources that the only type of cinema that Hertford could sustain is the 'festival' 'arts club' type that attracts a niche audience. When you consider the number of people that come into Hertford to enjoy the evening economy I am not convinced by this argument; as just as many people living in Hertford must desert their town centre to go off in search of a screen in Harlow or Stevenage.
Reply ID 2028
people living in Hertford must desert their town centre to go off in search of a screen in Harlow or Stevenage. Sloopjohnb Got to agree with your point a common night out for us would be cinema followed by a quick drink in a near by pub/bar. So I would guess that as you say it would be beneficial to the towns economy to have a cinema. If stevenage is what it was when I last visited in an evening (few years ago) I dont fancy going there and Hatfield well its Hatfield! Not sure about Harlow need to check the area out sometime! besides have you seen the prices that the cinemas expect you to pay now? I think i'll stick to waiting for the films to hit Dvd! Another point for the different Cinema companies would be that Hertford seems to have (no facts here!) a large proportion of residents in the 20 something catagory, i'm sure we also have a good amout of pensioners to make it to a cinema during the day too! I cant imagine the arts club type thatre/cinema would prove that popular, there is something along those lines in WGC that always seems to be pretty empty!
Reply ID 2049
Stevenage cinema is quite nice and is situated on the leisure park so you have a selection of big chain type restaurants to visit. Indian, Chinese, Italian, American, KFC and McDonalds are all there. Hatfield is similar only there are slightly less restaurants. Harlow cinema has a bella pasta nearby and that is it - it is also very uncomfortable seating so best avoided.
Reply ID 2054
I appreciate that these are in reasonable travelling distance, but apart from Stevenage, you really do need a car. What is good about Hertford is that practically everything is in walking distance and I am sure the demand would be there.
Reply ID 2056
If Hatfield, Stevenage etc. are anything to go by, be warned - cinemas usually come complete with blue neon lights.
Reply ID 2057
There is no where close to the heart of the town that would accomodate a financially viable cinema except Castle Hall, and then there would be parking problems. Out of town perhaps we have possibilities on the meads side of town or as part of the Archers Spring development.
Reply ID 2065
Blue lights are fine provided they are in the right place.
Reply ID 2070
Have to agree. I like neon lights. And I think the hospital building looks better for them. Unfortunately the building is in a residental area that makes the lights inappropriate.
Reply ID 2080
I Cant stand going to either Stevenage or Hatfield Cinemas, due to the highly irritating brats that are constantly messing about through the entire film! doesn't seem to matter what time of day it is they are always there. Unless you go on the opening night of a big film, when the cinema is so packed full of people they dont dare say a word! Sorry bad experiences!!
Reply ID 2082
Oh and yes neon lights fine, except, on top of hospitals! under boy racer cars, inserted into screen wash jets and on top of hospitals! oh did I already say that one!
Reply ID 2719
Who was it who was suggesting that Castle Hall be converted into a cinema a few months ago? It was a councillor, I believe.
Reply ID 2722
The suggestion wasn't to convert Castle Hall but to add an extention. You wouldn't hear the last of it if the hall were to close.
Reply ID 2723
I thought it was to turn it into a 3 screen venue. How could they possibly extend it?
Reply ID 2735
Ok, I'm only 33, but I remember going to the old Hertford cinema. It was full of kids making noise and ripping seats. The locals never supported it. Why would it change if we got a new one?
Reply ID 2737
You would hope that there is a new breed of customer. But I suspect not. Dude, when did you go to the old cinema? And which one was it (please excuse me for I am only 10 years a Hertford boy)?
Reply ID 2740
As I recall, the comment about Castle Hall showing films was an off-the-cuff remark by a local councillor who'd not really thought it through, which is why nothing has been heard of it since! Alot has changed since The County closed. Cinemas were in decline in the early eighties and fleapits up and down the country were closing. Then came the multiplex. It's ironic that cinema audiences have grown almost every year since 1984 - just a year after The County closed. It's also ironic that it's the council who are now trying to get a new cinema into the town when they so conspicuously failed to support a local campaign to save the building from demolition.
Reply ID 2741
But Steve, these can't be the same councillors, can they?
Reply ID 2745
Fleapits are still closing - the multiplexes are the real winners.
Reply ID 2754
I think the cinema story is typical of Hertford, to say the leaders of the council cannot organise a p*ss up in a brewery is an understatement. The town itself is run by in my opinion a load of old fuddy duddy's. They dont give a toss about the youth and teenagers of the town, who they seem to forget will be the ones in a few years time that are voting the boring sods out of council. People complaining about kids hanging about, then give them a place to go and keep off the streets. Antique shops are allowed to be painted orange, yet local pubs and clubs must adhere to a totally seperate set of rules. Complaints about the new hospital, and its rather nice neon blue strip of light, how the sodding hell can it affect your view of the sky at night, if its bothering you then turn your back to it, you will see exactly the same scene, stars and black sky. You wont be winging when you have to go to the hospital for treatment, maybe you should of gone to the planners meetings. Bloody Hertford and its useless facilities, Council and winging old residents.
Reply ID 2757
itsme, an excellent and well researched argument, congratulations
Reply ID 2758
While I agree with some of your commentsI have to say you have crammed more winge into one paragraph than I have seen in months! Should Hertford have a cinema? Well, yes, and hopefully not a half-baked compromise built above a discount store. And why could the skate park not get the go-ahead? Why don't you stand for council?
Reply ID 2759
Itsme.......it sounds like something has really wound you up. If Hertford really has that effect on you then perhaps you should take your own advice.........."if its bothering you then turn your back to it". Have you thought about anger management classes?
Reply ID 2870
bit negative aren't you itsme.... sounds as if you believe you're allowed to have your opinions, but you don't think anyone else should have theirs....
Reply ID 2971
i think that a cinema in hertford would be great. it would bring more ppl into the town and increase businesses turnover. ppl that wanna go to cinema then go to a restaurant for a meal ect. it should be done....... But y have they bin talking bout building 1?????
Reply ID 3325
I used to go in 1982. It was on Ware road. Whilst I would love Hertford to have another one, it won't work, unless we get a multiplex, which Hertford doesn't have the demographics for. It died because everyone went to the big 3 and 5 screen (now old) cinemas at Harlow, Waltham Cross and Stevenage. Myself included. Choice wins everytime.
Reply ID 3362
I used to go in 1982. It was on Ware road. Whilst I would love Hertford to have another one, it won't work, unless we get a multiplex, which Hertford doesn't have the demographics for. I am not sure I agree with you Dude. People come into Hertford from all over for an evening out. Large groups of young teenagers stand around outside places like McDonalds with little to do. Hertford is a centre that provides many people from all over with good entertainment. I think we could attract people from other towns. They can go to the cinema, have a drink in a pleasant pub, have a vast choice of places to go for a meal. I think the pulling power of Hertford is underestimated.
Reply ID 3363
To make another point on this, Hertford has changed very much in the past 20 years, 20 years ago there were few places to go and little to do. [:)]
Reply ID 3365
quote:I agree with you on that score - cinemas seem to have a minimum of 6 screens these days in order to be able to show all the current films. Is suspect that if you did build a 6 screen cinema in Hertford there would not be enough people to support it, you would probably get very small audiences to some screenings Build a smaller cinema with less screens and people wouldn't go because they wouldn't be showing the films people wanted.
Originally posted by wizkid
I used to go in 1982. It was on Ware road. Whilst I would love Hertford to have another one, it won't work, unless we get a multiplex, which Hertford doesn't have the demographics for.
Reply ID 3380
quote:Apart from the violence, I don't think it changed a great deal. Its was always popular with drinkers and eaters. In fact, anyone remember the Warehouse? A huge pub next to the cinema, but it did no good. People want multiplex options. I think the only chance Hertford has is if it went down the Arthouse film route. But no one will invest in this these days.
Originally posted by wizkid
To make another point on this, Hertford has changed very much in the past 20 years, 20 years ago there were few places to go and little to do. [:)]
Reply ID 3385
I remember the Warehouse (only with fond memories). When I was too young to get served in a pub my friends brother used to go inside and buy us drinks and we used to sit on the wall outside and drink alcohol. I was actually(believe it or not) a very well behaved kid as were my friends but we had no where else to go of an evening. People always asume that these kids are bad, but only a small percentage cause any trouble. Out of the friends I used to do this with, one has emigrated to Australia and is living comfortably with her husband, another 2 went onto university and now have very well respected jobs. None of them however, are thugs, drunks or anything of the like. I was very sad when they knocked the place down to make office blocks.
Reply ID 3389
As I recall they used to show films at Castle Hall for a while.
Reply ID 3444
quote:Spooky! Me too! I got served a couple of times, before it closed, by lying about my age (I passed as 18 at 15), but usually, I hung around the the old kabab shop, when it used to be a van! [:D]
Originally posted by Nicky
I remember the Warehouse (only with fond memories). When I was too young to get served in a pub my friends brother used to go inside and buy us drinks and we used to sit on the wall outside and drink alcohol. I was actually(believe it or not) a very well behaved kid as were my friends but we had no where else to go of an evening. People always asume that these kids are bad, but only a small percentage cause any trouble. Out of the friends I used to do this with, one has emigrated to Australia and is living comfortably with her husband, another 2 went onto university and now have very well respected jobs. None of them however, are thugs, drunks or anything of the like. I was very sad when they knocked the place down to make office blocks.