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Mayor's medal marks independent cinema's 10th year

Mark Smith
BBC News, Gloucestershire
Ross Campbell The cinema owner Mark Cunningham, dressed in a smart dark grey suit, white shirt and red tie, is holding an A4 sized, gold framed certificate bearing his name and the crest of Gloucester City Council. Next to him is the Mayor, Lorraine Campbell, wearing her ceremonial chain on top of her dark jacket and blue flowery dress. She is holding a small, open presentation box containing a silver circular medal. They are standing inside the cinema, with a small audience in their seats behind them.Ross Campbell
Cinema owner Mark Cunningham was presented with a special medal by Gloucester's Mayor Lorraine Campbell

An independent cinema has celebrated its 10th anniversary with a special weekend of film screenings.

The Sherborne Cinema in Gloucester is known for its art-deco interior, and for a single member of staff selling the tickets, drinks and snacks as well as starting the film.

Owner Mark Cunningham marked the occasion by showing his favourite movie, Cinema Paradiso, a foreign language film about how a man fulfils his dream by opening a cinema, along with other classics including Lady in a Van and Casablanca.

He was presented with a Mayor's Medal and certificate for his "outstanding service to the city".

The auditorium of the small Sherborne Cinema has a small number of rows of deep red fold-down seats, which face a one-metre high stage. Above that is the screen which is surrounded by a red curtain. The walls are painted deep orange and bright yellow, and there are golden statues on either side of the screen.
The Sherborne Cinema building dates back to 1880 and was fitted out in its art-deco style after being bought by Mr Cunningham in 2012

Mr Cunningham bought the building, which dates back to 1880, in Kingsholm after noticing it being advertised by an estate agent.

"I looked at it and thought it was a lovely building," he said.

"I liked its arched windows. I thought 'I'm having that' and so when the deal for the Christadelphian church to buy it fell through I became the owner of a semi-derelict building."

Mr Cunningham previously worked at the Palace Theatre cinema in Cinderford, and the Guildhall in Gloucester.

"There was an itch to have a go and it was an opportunity that was too good to miss," he explained.

Between 2012 and 2014 he installed the art-deco interior, for which the Sherborne Cinema is well known.

"When I started it was just a cream box. I knew I wanted to get some colour into it," he said.

"There are classic cinema colours, purples, browns, deep reds."

Above a wooden sign with gold lettering saying cinema entrance is a circular clock with gold coloured hands on a white background, with an elaborate golden surround looking like lots of feathers.
The art-deco clock in the cinema entrance is from the 1950s

In the entrance foyer of the cinema is an art-deco clock from the 1950s.

The auditorium has statues from the same era and ceiling chandeliers.

"There are even my mum's old velvet curtains to dampen the sound," added Mr Cunningham.

"The decor doesn't add to the film, but it gets people ready for an experience. You want a classical feel to add to the nostalgia."

Mr Cunningham said it was difficult for the business to survive through the Covid-19 pandemic.

"I run this as a labour of love," he said.

"As I own the building, the running costs are low which helped during Covid.

"I had faith to keep going and come out the other side."

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