Stowmarket cinema The Regal shortlisted for Cinema of the Year Award 2022

A cinema in Suffolk which received a multi-million pound revamp is up for an international award.

The Regal in Stowmarket is in the running for Screen International’s Cinema of the Year Award 2022 for cinema companies with 24 screens or less.

The award honours an individual cinema that has provided strong ticket sales and also engaged in new and improved ways to serve its customers.

Manager David Marsh said: “We are hugely proud to be shortlisted for such a prestigious industry award.

“We would like to thank the judges for their vote and the people of Mid Suffolk for supporting the Regal in such big numbers.”

Owned by Stowmarket Town Council, The Regal saw a £3.7 million refurbishment in May 2021 that saw the addition of two new screens and a café bar.

Film industry figures including Director of Film 4 Daniel Battsek and Head of Netflix UK Hamish Mosely selected the Regal and five other cinemas from a list of more than 200 candidates.

Other shortlisted cinemas include Highland Cinema in Fort William, Ilkley Cinema, Keswick Alhambra Cinema, The Living Room Cinema in Liphook and The Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford.

The winner will be announced on Thursday, November 24 and more information can be found here.

The Regal cinema was also recently nominated for national Building Excellence Award recognised by the Local Authority Building Control (LABC).