shadow
Sat 29th May 2010
02:17 PM
|
There are a couple of reasons we are looking to replace the cinema seating rather than refurbish the existing models. One is compatability, each seat comprises of a back, seat, swivel brackets & support stantions either side. There are 2 widths of seat, 2 widths of back, 4 types of brackets each with differing holes and 10 different types of stantion. Some slope for the downstairs rake, some are flat footed, some side stantions are left, the rest are right, some decorative, some not. Replacing a broken seat often means scouring through different parts looking for a match.
Another is regulations move on, Fire being one of the most important. we had several seats recovered with approved materials and frankly they were no better to sit on, debateably worse in fact. We stripped and repainted the entire upstairs some years ago, it was a vast asthetic improvement but did nothing for seat width, comfort, leg room etc. Basically the very things seats are supposed to be good at.
I appreciate the strength of feeling about experiencing the character of a vintage cinema and the seats are often part of that, but we have to modernise, sometimes by compliance with licensing laws when not by intention, and the fact is whenever we have made a leap forward which improves what we offer, we are usually rewarded with a spike in audience figures indicating approval.
We can modernise without ruining what the regent represents, I just believe the basics of picture quality and comfort must strive to stay in line with modern expectations.
|
