Minehead's Regal revamp within touching distance (From Somerset County Gazette)

Minehead's Regal revamp within touching distance

9:00am Friday 6th July 2012 in West Somerset By Hannah Green

SUPPORTERS of the Regal Theatre in Minehead are celebrating after a £50,000 grant means long-held dreams of a refurbishment project can now become reality.

West Somerset Council agreed to give the money to Minehead Amateur Theatrical Association (MATA) out of its Seaside Strategy Funding pot after the group finalised its plans for the £250,000 scheme.

The project will not only improve the theatre itself but by making the town’s premier cultural venue more obvious, it will also transform that section of The Avenue.

Plans include an overhaul of the entrance and a new lift to enable less mobile people to access the auditorium.

MATA chairman Ray Tew said: “We are delighted to have secured this money – it’s a key building block for the project, which has been rumbling on for nearly 15 years.

“It has been a long time coming but now it is getting really exciting.

“The box office is going to have a really positive impact on that part of the street frontage. It will bring a high visibility to the entrance of this vital community asset.

“The work we are doing will really lift it to give it a more contemporary, upbeat feel which will increase people’s awareness of the theatre.”

Although a shortfall still exists in the full amount needed for the work, a bridging loan of up to £50,000 is being investigated as a safety net in case the remaining cash cannot be found through the theatre’s own fundraising over the rest of the year.

Two companies are in the running to win the contract for the work and a decision on which will succeed is expected to be made this week.

The aim is for work to start on September 10 and finish in the week before Christmas.