Rye is all set to welcomethe silver screen this year

CONTRACTS have been signed to deliver a state-of-the art two screen cinema to Rye.

The cinema will open later this year at Lion Street and will be run by Kino, who operate the hugely successful independent cinema in Hawkhurst.

It is a real coupe for the town which faced seeing a treasured community building at Lion Street being demolished and replaced with luxury housing by Sussex South Coast College.

The Fletcher Group joined forces with St Mary’s Church to acquire the former library and adult education site and thwart the developers.

Now the group has announced the signing of a lease document on April 15 which confirms the opening of the cinema.

Hugh Kermode, from the Fletcher Group, said: “This means there is a guaranteed tenant for Lion Street for 25 years.

“Crucially, there is now an assurance of income in the form of rent, and a royalty on sales which will repay the lenders who have placed so much faith in the team.

Contracts have now been signed with Kino Digital, R Durtnell & Son (the contractor) and our core Funder, the Charlie Parsons Foundation. We have also received the ESCC Grant payment and a substantial lease premium from Kino Digital.”

Matt Breckon, Managing Director of Kino Digital commented: “We are so thrilled to have signed on the dotted line and are very excited about the opening of Kino Rye in the centre of this beautiful historic town later this year.”