A much-loved arts venue got the red carpet Hollywood treatment for its grand re-opening.
The historic Royalty Cinema in Bowness, which is owned by Westmorland and Furness Council, closed in 2024 after the previous tenant decided to give up the lease on the venue.
But it was lights, camera, action once again on Saturday as the venue, which has been used as a cinema and public hall since 1927, re-opened its doors under the stewardship of new leaseholder Bryn Tyson and his business partner Mark Naunton.
A sold-out audience of 380 people attended the grand re-opening night, complete with performance artists, a film presentation about the venue’s history and plans for the future and live music from local favourites Native Cult and popular Beatles tribute act The Upbeat Beatles.
Westmorland and Furness councillor for Bowness and Lyth, Steve Bavin, started the evening’s proceedings by cutting the ceremonial ribbon to mark the beginning of the latest era in the Royalty’s long history.
As owners of the building, the council has worked with Bryn and Mark to replace the Royalty’s outdated and inoperable gas heating system and invested in a new air source heating and air conditioning system, as well as state-of-the-art fire and intruder alarm systems. The council will also be installing solar panels to further improve the energy efficiency of the building.
Councillor Bavin commented: “It was a wonderful occasion and it was great to see so many people turning out to support the re-opening.
“I’m so pleased that Bryn and Mark, with help from the council, have brought the Royalty back to life. Let’s hope for many more sold-out performances at this much-loved venue in the heart of Bowness.”
The Royalty will continue to operate as a cinema and as part of the extensive refurbishments Bryn and Mark have installed a top-of-the-range cinema sound system, but it will also have the main stage brought back in to use for live music, comedy and theatre events, while there are also plans to reintroduce the smaller cinema space on the first floor that groups can hire for private film screenings.
Bryn, from Dalton-in-Furness, has extensive experience of the Royalty having worked there previously in his capacity as a theatre and sound technician, as well as at other local venues including the Roxy and Coro in Ulverston, Forum in Barrow, Kanteena and Dukes Theatre and Cinema in Lancaster and The Platform in Morecambe.
Along with Mark, who is from Barrow and has extensive construction management experience, they share a passion for cinema, music, arts and culture and are determined that the Royalty will retain all the charm and character created by the previous operator, while developing and expanding its programme and potential.
For more information about upcoming events, see the Royalty’s Facebook page at https://facebook.com/royaltycinema or the new website: www.theroyaltybowness.co.uk