The green light has been given to a new community cinema in Angus, after uncertainty over local authority backing.
Flicks, Brechin’s Community Cinema, hopes to bring showings back to the town in its city hall in April this year.
And following a high-level meeting with Angus Council officials, permission has been given for the cinema to operate at a community rate.
Fears had been expressed that a much higher, corporate tariff would be applied to the cinema but these were allayed at the meeting.
On behalf of the organisers, Mark Arbuthnott said: “A member of Brechin’s Community Cinema Project, supported by local councillors Jim Houston and Mairi Evans, recently met representatives of Angus Council’s leisure department.
“As a result of this meeting agreement was reached over support and resources to be provided by Angus Council, together with agreement over the rates at which the City Hall will be leased to the community cinema.
“All involved are very happy with the agreement reached, which allows the cinema to move forward with confidence and look forward to a sustainable future.
“Brechin’s Community Cinema would especially like to extend their thanks to both Jim and Mairi for their invaluable input.”
Brechin has been without regular film showings since the mid-80s and the Flicks name pays tribute to one of Scotland’s most popular nightclubs from that era.
The Brechin Community Cinema Project set up a Facebook page at the end of January to gauge support and let residents know its aims.
Now sitting at 760 likes, the group has announced a partnership with FilmMobile Scotland and hopes to show the first film in two months, with further screenings in June, August and every month thereafter.
Chalmers in Arbroath recently began to show movies in its filmhouse with great success, while the Montrose Playhouse Project is looking to finalise its community asset transfer application for the former swimming pool in the Mall.
The Flicks name is well known to a generation of Scottish clubbers, who beat a trail to the nightclub based in the former King’s Cinema.
In April 2008 plans were lodged to demolish the building, retaining the facade, and build housing on the site but these came to nothing and by May 2009 the building was shuttered and unused.
The building was placed on the buildings at risk register in 2012.
The cinema’s first showings will be on Saturday April 11 when Home, Shaun the Sheep and The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel will be shown at 1pm, 4pm and 7pm, respectively.
Tickets will go on sale in mid-March, priced at £6 for adults, £5 for children and concessions, and £20 for a family of two adults and children.
These will be made available at various outlets in Brechin and Edzell, as well as on the door.