Owner of independent cinema in Barton sees hard work pay off

The owner of an independent cinema in Barton admits the hard work to get the project off the ground has paid off. The Red Carpet Cinema and Cafe Bar was the brainchild of Kate and Ian Silverwood and has been open since August, creating more than 20 jobs. As well as seeing their own dream come to fruition, the project has also allowed supporters to follow their journey. “We had a core of customers who followed us from the very start of the construction work,” Kate said. “Without any advertising, they became involved in our story and have spread the word and business is growing very rapidly.

“We are of course, extremely grateful to all our customers who are talking to their friends and families and persuading them to try us. “Sometimes when I walk through the café bar and hear the busy atmospheric buzz, I do feel relieved and overjoyed that people are coming and enjoying themselves. “In the little cinemas, when customers are engrossed by the film in such a collective experience, it does make all the effort worthwhile.” The project is the first to be completed as part of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) Growing Places Fund. And Kate admitted that their dream may have remained as just that if the support hadn’t come their way. “There was a moment when we had been turned down by every single bank you can imagine, that we thought we would never get the business built,” she said. “Without Growing Places and the GBSLEP I honestly believe that The Red Carpet would still be a bit of scrub land with a few random concrete pipes sitting on it. “We delivered the construction of the building on time and on budget using a local builder, RJK Construction. We are now hitting our financial targets and intend to work tirelessly to return the money to the GBSLEP so they can lend it to other new businesses that are creating jobs in the local area. “I think the scheme is an inspirational piece of government intervention to back entrepreneurs at a time when our banking system refuses to lend money.” The cinema has two screens – one with 70 seats and the other with 100 – and shows a combination of the latest blockbusters, independent and art house films and there is now a full programme of live opera, ballet and theatre beamed in via satellite. Richard Grosvenor, GBSLEP Board Director, said: “Having been to visit the Red Carpet I can only urge anybody who lives in the area to give it a visit to see for themselves how impressive it is.” For more information visit the Red Carpet Cinema website at www.redcarpetcinema.co.uk.