Ticket sales are a box-office smash
Oban’s Phoenix Cinema is experiencing blockbusting numbers of visitors to its two screens.
In a 12-month period, numbers have increased by 4,000 which is a ‘reel’ reason to celebrate, says the Scottish charity’s chairman Gary Brown.
A new board took over the community-run cinema three years ago and has ‘upped its game’ since, said Mr Brown.
Revamping the foyer area and moving the concession stand further back in the George Street building has had a part to play in breathing new life back into the venture.
‘The place was looking very tired before we started to make changes. People were just overlooking it but now it’s become a place to go,’ added Mr Brown.
‘The next stage is very much in discussion but we’re talking about turning part of the front building into a box office area and space for staff. Our staff do a great job.
‘We are in a better position financially since we took over as a board. We’re still actively looking for sponsorship but we’ve been fortunate to have an anonymous donor who has helped us bring our vision forward.
‘We’ve also had support from Crerar Hotels through its funding trust and other local businesses, which we appreciate very much,’ he said.
As well as a new box office being on the list for 2020, so is continuing to improve the cinema for the public.
With new Bond movie No Time To Die on the horizon this spring, even more fans will be making their way through the cinema’s doors but it is not the films that make the cinema’s profits, said Mr Brown.
‘A lot of money goes to the film distributors, but where we make our money is on the concessions so we’d really like people to buy their popcorn and treats from us,’ he added.
Last Friday, members of the cinema’s board gave staff a well-earned night off so they could finally catch-up on a Christmas meal together.
The board members were trained and given a helping hand from the town’s teenage police force. Mr Brown’s wife, PC Claire Brown, was there with young people from the Police Scotland’s Young Volunteers group she runs in Oban.