The destiny of Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlake’s entertainment company, which wants to take over St Andrews’ A-listed New Picture House, has been determined.
Fife Council has approved the superstars’ plans to renovate the 94-year-old arena into a new “hybrid” entertainment facility.
Earlier this year, New Picture House Ltd and T-Squared Social, which includes the champion golfer and singer, announced plans to transform the town’s sole theater into a family-friendly, combined film, dining, and entertainment destination.
The New Picture House has been a feature of the community since 1930. It currently features 700 seats, with a large screen lounge and two smaller screens.
Screen three will be kept for full-time cinema use, while screen one will be utilized to show live sports and host “enhanced movie experiences” under the revised suggestions. They have also vowed to keep 345 seats available for future films.
Furthermore, developers stated that the changes will result in a “significant economic investment in the town” with 40-50 jobs created. This is an increase from the current ten staff, who T-Squared Social says will be given the choice to stay with the new enterprise.
“We are delighted to have received planning permission for our exciting proposals,” T-Squared Social’s managing partner, Christopher Anand, said. “As a team, we listened to St. Andrews people and expanded the number of screens while keeping the main auditorium. With our new entertainment idea, which sits alongside the theater, we will ensure that a movie offering remains in the town for this and future generations.
The approved designs allow for the construction of a bar/restaurant and “interactive entertainment uses” such as sports simulators, electronic darts, and table football.
They also intend to update the building’s seating, audiovisual technologies, and heating/air conditioning systems, which “have all reached the end of their lifespan.”
T-Squared Social claims that their proposals are the only way to restore and preserve both the cinema and the building in town.
“The cinema has not been viable for the past number of years and like many other cinemas, is in steep decline, running at under 10% occupancy,” the promoters claimed. It had to decide whether to close or adapt, which led to T-Squared Social’s engagement.
Although the business model is expected to alter, the structure will essentially remain the same. According to the developer, the changes will be “minimal and sensitive to its heritage designation.” Major construction will be kept to a minimum, with the internal and external specified elements remaining intact. The upper level balcony in the main auditorium will also remain mostly intact.
Fife Council approved the plans with few caveats. T-Squared will have three years to begin development. According to planners, the proposals are “acceptable in terms of design, detailing, and material selection; and would protect and enhance the character and appearance of the conservation area.”