A much-loved arts venue is looking forward to a bright future under its new operators.
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.
Since then the council has been working to secure a new tenant for the Royalty, which has been used as a cinema and public hall since it first opened in 1927.
Local businessman Bryn Tyson is the new leaseholder and, along with his business partner Mark Naunton, they are putting the finishes touches to the refreshed Royalty ahead of a grand re-opening on 14 June.
The pair have worked tirelessly to prepare the old building for the latest chapter in its long history. The Royalty will continue to operate as a cinema and they 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.
Mark explains: “The Royalty is the only cinema in the UK, possibly in Europe, that has a working Wurlitzer organ in place in a functioning cinema and we want to make the most of that unique feature, with silent films accompanied by live music.
“We are aiming to have programmes of classic films as well as latest releases and live music every fortnight and other events on the stage, such as comedy nights and theatre productions.
“It’s important to us that we complement other arts and cultural venues both in Bowness and the wider area and we want to work with them and the local community to make sure we offer something that adds to the rich mix of attractions.’’
Westmorland and Furness Council are owners of the building. In order to meet increasingly stringent energy performance standards for commercial buildings, the council has replaced 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.
The investment and the new lease has also ensured that the Picnic Box sandwich shop can remain in place in the building and Bryn and Mark have renovated the other previously empty retail unit to create a new ice cream shop.
“Everyone has been amazing’’ says Mark. “The council has been so supportive, nothing has been too much trouble and they have worked with us to improve the building and they are really backing our plans.
“The new facilities they have installed really are over and above our expectations and we are so grateful for their investment.’’
Mark and Bryn say they have also received plenty of support for their venture from the community and individuals in Windermere and Bowness.
“We have been overwhelmed with offers of support from all sorts of people in the local community, from all walks of life, just coming down and volunteering to help out. People love this building and are very excited to see it re-opening.’’
Councillor Andrew Jarvis, Westmorland and Furness Council’s Cabinet member for Finance and Assets, said: “It is wonderful to see this historic and important building re-opening.
“The council has always been keen to support a sustainable future for the Royalty and to ensure it remains at the heart of the community and the area’s thriving arts and cultural scene.
“Our investment to support Bryn and Mark’s plans should ensure the Royalty continues as a cinema and cultural venue well into its centenary year in 2027 and beyond.’’
The latest era in the Royalty’s long history will be launching with a Grand Re-opening Night on Saturday, 14 June, compered by Wayne Bartholomew - well-known for his starring role in a fly-on-the-wall TV documentary set at a Lake District hotel - and featuring a film presentation about the venue’s history and plans for the future and live music from Beatles tribute act The Upbeat Beatles.
For more information about tickets for the Grand Re-opening and upcoming events, see the Royalty’s Facebook page at https://facebook.com/royaltycinema or the new website: www.theroyaltybowness.co.uk