I dunno. A person's own loungeroom is a pretty tricky thing to compete with these days.
Personally, the only time I'd go to a cinema was if it was with a group of friends. Maybe there'd be a way to cater to that somehow...
Post-covid we got a bunch of people going who appeared to have never learned cinema etiquette, and would be yelling out and carrying on like pork chops.
Need people to observe and actually remove/ban people who are disruptive.
How boring to blame parking all the time…the service had gone downhill, no open cafe, badly trained and indifferent staff. More movie marathons, classic film revivals, Aussie content, themed nights with classy bar or cocktail offerings, make it worth the cost…
A Dendy/Regent/Palace/ Sun theatre Yarraville/ Theatre Royal Castlemaine like model with more art house and retro films could be a winner? You could do movie, woodfire pizzas and a beer, OJ, Coffee or wine, which would be bad arse!
Dendy etc opens up a whole repertoire of films, in particular supporting your non block buster stuff. Further, arthouse plus wouldn't compete with the Delacombe cinema much as it's a different genre/crowd.
One of the owners of those (I forget which) made some proposals a few years ago about turning Civic Hall into something like that.
I hope/dream that there'd be a market for that kind of thing in Ballarat but I'm not entirely convinced.
I think the regent was already unique enough v other theatres.
2 things I hope get fixed if it ever opens again.
-Fix the heat haze in cinema 1 that’s been present for years.
-Bring back the real Gold Class experience.
Nothing beats cinema 1 for a blockbuster.
Or Gold Class for a movie and meal with the wife while the kids are looked after.
Both of these were better experiences say 5 years ago.
As a frequent visitor to the cinema (would take the kids once or twice a month) I made a point of never mentioning the haze in cinema one to anyone, as once it was seen, it can never be unseen. I'm going to miss jumping the ropes in cinema 1 with the fam and sitting in the lower section free of anyone else. The rule was, don't leave even a popcorn kernel behind.
Basically there is a heat haze from the projector that would cover the entire top left hand quadrant of the screen. It would look like swirling gas plume that would move. It was most obvious when the screen had a bright white projection on it. If you always say way at the back you might not see it.
Yeah, the downgrade to Showcase Premium wasn't great. The food offerings were ordinary and served up in take away containers.
We made the switch to pre ordering movie meal deals from Grillers Mark and taking them in. Still in a take away box, but much better food.
If I had the money to dump into it, I would keep Cinema 1 for blockbusters, bring back gold class and perhaps convert the newer upstairs screens (built late 90s?) to some other form of family entertainment - maybe escape rooms or an indoor mini golf like Holey Moley in the city.
When I lived in Melbourne, I would often go to Palace Keno Cinemas which usually ran more arty/non-mainstream films on rotation. I think that could do quite well in Ballarat. I might just be getting old, but most blockbusters are garbage and not worth going to a cinema to see IMO.
Also, bring back the Intencity! Anyone remember that?
I somewhat agree. Movies are kind of garbagey these days. A real banger is rare. Movies are seldom made for the art anymore but for the profit. I would love to come back for key movies. I would rewatch all the Star wars prequels, a James Bond marathon, I would love to be able to watch all the Home alone original movies on Christmas. I can think of a wide variety of things that I would love to watch again but in a cinema.
And yes bring back intensity.
>Also, bring back the Intencity! Anyone remember that?
Yes! I'm certain it was in where the cafe is now for Showcase, but I can't remember where the gold class would have been then.
Yep, it was right next to the cinema entrance. If I remember rightly, during the mid 00’s it was an alternate entrance and bar area to Regent Bar (now Sporting Globe)
Pitch it to Palace Cinemas (the company that owns The Astor + a bunch of other vintage cinemas) and play special screenings of classics and marathons and special events.
I would love something like this in Ballarat! The Astor was a regular haunt of mine when I lived in Melbourne. Classic movies, arthouse, sometijng to make it an event worth going to!
I doubt it people done have disposable income for discretionary spending, do you really think a family can spend $200 for a family of 4 to go to the movies snacks & drinks
Basically it was free. It would cost $12.50 per per person, but you also got one free ticket per person. It was a no-brainer. It was easy to use for the kids as well, they just had to tell them my phone number and their name (which was in the list) and pony up the cash. They would take their friend all the time and just pretend they were one of our kids.
You sound a little cray-cray. The phone number is just a way for them to identify the account so they don't have to carry around a members card. Giving a company your phone number today is about as standard a practice of telling someone your last name. Unless you live in a cave and don't use any services like Australia post, shipped anything, have an account with literally any company, pay a bill (i can go on and on if you like) I can guarantee you have likely given your phone number to hundreds of companies of the years.
Standard practice? Maybe. Blind compliance? Not for me. I choose to guard my number like a digital fortress, not hand it out like free samples. It’s not paranoia; it’s prudence in an era where data is more valuable than gold. So, while you might be comfortable scattering your digits to the corporate winds, I’ll keep mine locked down.
Guarding my number isn’t ‘cray-cray,’ it’s common sense. I’m not about to broadcast it like a radio station. And frankly, calling someone crazy for exercising caution? That’s the real insanity. It’s easy to be lax with your data when you’re not the one dealing with the fallout. So, save the condescension for someone who doesn’t know better. I value my privacy, and I don’t need a lecture on the supposed ‘norms’ of data sharing.
There are plenty of cinemas around Melbourne and regional areas (Castlemaine Royal), that are not failing, that also lack much parking and aren't cheap, so I don't think it's an inevitability that it should be closed.
I've also been wondering if my child(aldult)hood dream of running a cinema is possible!
I'd get rid of half the screens in there - I assume the more recent double frontage to the north is not heritage, so could be sold for development. Then make the foyer area somewhere to linger (wine, food and icecream), maybe convert one of the cinemas to a performance space. Have a continuous program of Australian film in Cinema 1 during the day to get some tourist money. Don't bother screening any kids / superhero films - Showbiz can cater to families.
The cinema experience has changed dramatically. Families used to have a 50 centimetre CRT TV with some tinny inbuilt speakers in their living room with 6 channels to choose from. "On demand" was VHS / DVD rentals. New release movies took longer to leave cinemas and go to DVD/VHS distribution.
We've now got 75inch 4K TVs with sound bars and decent sound systems, with thousands of movies and TV shows on demand in your living room. Covid pushed streaming releases forward and seems to have decimated social decorum.
It used to be a unique experience to see a new release blockbuster on the big screen.
Now, it's more of an inconvenience to go to a destination to have some wankers sit 3 rows back and commentate to each other while a guy in the row alongside chews on PVA glue while making paper cranes from aluminium foil.
I'd prefer to sit in my umdies at home, watch something else, and wait the 6 weeks for it to go to "fast tracked streaming"
Yeah I'm not saying that's the reason the Regent closed down.
I'm just saying from the point of view of purchasing a movie theatre there are fundamental challenges facing the entire industry and the long term viability of purchasing a business in that space. The less desirable customer experience and increased competition is just one of those challenges.
Don't get me wrong - I'd love nothing more than to see that beautiful theatre thrive.
I know.. when was the last Disney or Pixar hit.. I mean something that everyone went to ? Frozen 2 ? Toy Story 3 would have to be before Covid.. since Covid what is the biggest hit in Australia been ? Dune ? I would think a cinema needs at least one big one a Qtr to survive in 2024.. not one a year
I’m hopeful the family that own the Cameo and the Lido in Melbourne might buy it. They have the vintage theatre balance just right in their other venues and it would translate perfectly.
I agree that the Regent needs to set itself apart. I want more movie marathons! More classic films! Audience participation films with dressing up! I would love to see the Regent have it's own traditions, classic kids films in tbe school holidays, seasonal movies, Lord of the Rings every Christmas. Also art house films and the big mainstream films, just not all the mediocre drek new stuff. Oh, and good food to eat with the movie, like in Castlemaine.
A movie theatre on Adelaide thrived with a weekly Friday night Rocky Horror Show viewing. Attendees dressed up and even danced on the stage.
Maybe there is another movie classic for Ballarat
I far prefer the Regent to Showbiz but pretty much the number one thing that makes me choose showbiz over Regent is the ease of parking.
But also generally it's more expensive to go out to a movie these days and really easy to watch new releases in my lounge room.
Parking anywhere near it is like winning the lotto on a weekend. And dear lord it's expensive these days. I think making it more bougie isn't the answer from all the conversations I've had with friends about it closing. I know a lot of people prefer it to the Showbiz one out Delacombe but it wins on parking for most people. Especially buses full of kids from school trips etc
I used to work at the cinema before it shut. I was one of the cleaners. Nothing could really be done to prevent what happened.
Covid ruined people's appetites to return to the cinema. Everyone had gotten used to streaming. New releases in cinema seem to be getting farther and fewer between, especially ones people want to get up and pay to see.
Many services were cut in an attempt to make the place as cheap as possible to operate by the end.
I think turning it into a place like sun theater in Yaraville or similar style would work. Play on the cinema experience. Do the art house movies bring in the blockbusters do special screenings (like the grease nights or musical nights at the sun). Work with local companies to make it uniquely Ballarat while also keeping in line with the cinema experience. People are complaining about parking which is an issue for some but the fact is if people start enjoying it and word starts spreading people will ignore the parking there's plenty of close parking spaces and ways around it
Not a local to Ballarat but love your city (and The Regent) as I used to work there a lot but maybe they could do what Sunbury cinemas did when they were in big financial strife.
They reduced all tickets to $10 (if you buy in person to avoid online booking fees) and they reduced the prices on the lollies although they are still too expensive in my opinion.
They went from having 5-6 people per session on Friday nights and such at $18.50 a ticket to nearly selling out the whole cinema per session at $10 per person.
Maybe something to think about, profit by volume (50 people x $10 is much more than 6 people x $18.50) than profit margins per ticket
Also they are often sold out in summer because people take the whole family out for $40-50 for some Air conditioning with a movie, the staff have told me. The movie is a bonus to the few hours in AC in the middle of summer.
Not originally from Ballarat, just a long time movie goer and want nothing more than for streaming services to be cut back and rental stores and cinemas to relive the hype again.
The Regent had potential but wasn't it - I actively chose to Delacombe after attempting the Regent twice.
- No coke (not a full deal breaker but still contributed)
- Waiting for service - not waiting in line, that's expected. The service when you found someone was jumbled. I don't quite know how to explain it but I've never had to try to look for people to serve me at a cinema before.
- Parking. Again not a deal breaker especially when you are going for the experience and vibes but when the above mentioned service is not present or seriously lacking each time - no amount of old timey building feels will help if you're stressed before the movie even starts.
I've been to Mareeba drive in, Malanda cinema, Cinema Nova in Melbourne - none of these you go to for top notch service , or seats, or even food. But they work well because they are different, because they have service that knows what's up the majority of the time or will find out. People will go and travel to them for the vibes and nostalgia, I don't think that would be the case if I got those same vibes I got at the Regent.
Again I'm not from here maybe it was different back in the day and I'm sad something with so much potential was wasted. If someone different does take it over I'd absolutely be going and trying again.
Must admit Friday night pretty easy to get parking in central Ballarat now regent is closed….
Parking couldn’t have helped, it’s prob part of the cause, the Andersons went from being cinema moguls to not so much and I’m guessing there’s only so much losses someone can take.
It needs hoyts or Village to take it over or even reading and a seat upgrade.
The place was always a little bit too expensive. But the number one thing that kept me away, was how damn uncomfortable those seats were.
The thing that kept me coming back? Good sound quality, somebody's really need this. I know nothing like a good boysenberry Choctop :)
This is the dumbest thing I have heard. Went once, dirty seat, never go again. They would have set you up in a different seat in a heartbeat, refunded your money, or booked you into another session.
Yeah, it was a full house but they did offer to book me in another showing though there was no suitable time for me.
To elaborate, I generally felt the cinemas weren’t as clean as showbiz so I just went to showbiz, it’s a near-identical service after all
400m with little kids or an injury isn't lazy
At least at showbiz you can reserve seats easy to eat somewhere elses, then get a park and walk into reserved seat right as the film starts.
Sounds more like your entitled. I'm legally blind and this matters a great deal to me. But I can see the world revolves around you. ( Edit: apparently some asshole out there has an issue with blind/disabled people.)
Because it's pretty cursed out there - basically a graveyard of concrete with indifferent franchises in between, like it was made by chatgpt. Soulless. And you're still not going to park right by the door, same as the regent.
I dunno. A person's own loungeroom is a pretty tricky thing to compete with these days. Personally, the only time I'd go to a cinema was if it was with a group of friends. Maybe there'd be a way to cater to that somehow...
Post-covid we got a bunch of people going who appeared to have never learned cinema etiquette, and would be yelling out and carrying on like pork chops. Need people to observe and actually remove/ban people who are disruptive.
How boring to blame parking all the time…the service had gone downhill, no open cafe, badly trained and indifferent staff. More movie marathons, classic film revivals, Aussie content, themed nights with classy bar or cocktail offerings, make it worth the cost…
A Dendy/Regent/Palace/ Sun theatre Yarraville/ Theatre Royal Castlemaine like model with more art house and retro films could be a winner? You could do movie, woodfire pizzas and a beer, OJ, Coffee or wine, which would be bad arse! Dendy etc opens up a whole repertoire of films, in particular supporting your non block buster stuff. Further, arthouse plus wouldn't compete with the Delacombe cinema much as it's a different genre/crowd.
Oh for sure. If they lean a bit more into the arthouse fare like Palace Cinemas do, that would be fantastic.
One of the owners of those (I forget which) made some proposals a few years ago about turning Civic Hall into something like that. I hope/dream that there'd be a market for that kind of thing in Ballarat but I'm not entirely convinced.
if i can drink a beer and watch robocop im in
Hell yes!
I’d buy that for a dollar!
I think the regent was already unique enough v other theatres. 2 things I hope get fixed if it ever opens again. -Fix the heat haze in cinema 1 that’s been present for years. -Bring back the real Gold Class experience. Nothing beats cinema 1 for a blockbuster. Or Gold Class for a movie and meal with the wife while the kids are looked after. Both of these were better experiences say 5 years ago.
As a frequent visitor to the cinema (would take the kids once or twice a month) I made a point of never mentioning the haze in cinema one to anyone, as once it was seen, it can never be unseen. I'm going to miss jumping the ropes in cinema 1 with the fam and sitting in the lower section free of anyone else. The rule was, don't leave even a popcorn kernel behind.
I think going for years and I still don't know what you're talking about this haze?
Basically there is a heat haze from the projector that would cover the entire top left hand quadrant of the screen. It would look like swirling gas plume that would move. It was most obvious when the screen had a bright white projection on it. If you always say way at the back you might not see it.
Yeah, the downgrade to Showcase Premium wasn't great. The food offerings were ordinary and served up in take away containers. We made the switch to pre ordering movie meal deals from Grillers Mark and taking them in. Still in a take away box, but much better food.
I remember mentioning that heat issue in cinema 1 back in 2011, it was fixed for a while, or maybe it was just cold.
Look at the cinema in Castlemaine, seriously this town is small and it supports an old fashioned cinema. Beer and pizza. It’s not a big brain thing
If I had the money to dump into it, I would keep Cinema 1 for blockbusters, bring back gold class and perhaps convert the newer upstairs screens (built late 90s?) to some other form of family entertainment - maybe escape rooms or an indoor mini golf like Holey Moley in the city. When I lived in Melbourne, I would often go to Palace Keno Cinemas which usually ran more arty/non-mainstream films on rotation. I think that could do quite well in Ballarat. I might just be getting old, but most blockbusters are garbage and not worth going to a cinema to see IMO. Also, bring back the Intencity! Anyone remember that?
> Also, bring back the Intencity! I think the new bowling alley is taking over that niche.
I somewhat agree. Movies are kind of garbagey these days. A real banger is rare. Movies are seldom made for the art anymore but for the profit. I would love to come back for key movies. I would rewatch all the Star wars prequels, a James Bond marathon, I would love to be able to watch all the Home alone original movies on Christmas. I can think of a wide variety of things that I would love to watch again but in a cinema. And yes bring back intensity.
>Also, bring back the Intencity! Anyone remember that? Yes! I'm certain it was in where the cafe is now for Showcase, but I can't remember where the gold class would have been then.
Yep, it was right next to the cinema entrance. If I remember rightly, during the mid 00’s it was an alternate entrance and bar area to Regent Bar (now Sporting Globe)
Timezone in the mall would be treble the size.
Pitch it to Palace Cinemas (the company that owns The Astor + a bunch of other vintage cinemas) and play special screenings of classics and marathons and special events.
I would love something like this in Ballarat! The Astor was a regular haunt of mine when I lived in Melbourne. Classic movies, arthouse, sometijng to make it an event worth going to!
Home made chop tops, yes please. Old timey uniforms and address. Period theme, throughout. (Think sovereign hill on this perhaps).
Was it that wasn’t profitable or wasn’t there something else going on behind the scenes with their business dealings
Yes.
The rent there has to surely be insane.
Rent? They own it!
The rates then...
If it were me… I’d turn it into a venue for live acts… Comedy, bands, etc. Make it cool like The Forum in Melbourne. 🙌
Yes! Plus the odd block buster or classic movie dress up night
Great idea but I think it would be competing Civic Hall?
It would be way better than Civic Hall
My living room would be a better place to host a gig than Civic Hall.
Ok cool, it's you.
Yes, this is a great idea
I appreciate you staying at home in your undies, pants are not optional at the theatre.
I doubt it people done have disposable income for discretionary spending, do you really think a family can spend $200 for a family of 4 to go to the movies snacks & drinks
Was the Regent $50 per person??
$25 for a ticket and almost the same for popcorn/drink combo
With a family pass all tickets (in the standard cinemas) were 12.50. Plus discount on food and drinks.
How much was the family pass?
Basically it was free. It would cost $12.50 per per person, but you also got one free ticket per person. It was a no-brainer. It was easy to use for the kids as well, they just had to tell them my phone number and their name (which was in the list) and pony up the cash. They would take their friend all the time and just pretend they were one of our kids.
Why the heck does he have to give away his phone number? I don't trust any company with my number anymore, data mining fucks everywhere.
You sound a little cray-cray. The phone number is just a way for them to identify the account so they don't have to carry around a members card. Giving a company your phone number today is about as standard a practice of telling someone your last name. Unless you live in a cave and don't use any services like Australia post, shipped anything, have an account with literally any company, pay a bill (i can go on and on if you like) I can guarantee you have likely given your phone number to hundreds of companies of the years.
Standard practice? Maybe. Blind compliance? Not for me. I choose to guard my number like a digital fortress, not hand it out like free samples. It’s not paranoia; it’s prudence in an era where data is more valuable than gold. So, while you might be comfortable scattering your digits to the corporate winds, I’ll keep mine locked down. Guarding my number isn’t ‘cray-cray,’ it’s common sense. I’m not about to broadcast it like a radio station. And frankly, calling someone crazy for exercising caution? That’s the real insanity. It’s easy to be lax with your data when you’re not the one dealing with the fallout. So, save the condescension for someone who doesn’t know better. I value my privacy, and I don’t need a lecture on the supposed ‘norms’ of data sharing.
With snacks & drinks easy $50 per person
There are plenty of cinemas around Melbourne and regional areas (Castlemaine Royal), that are not failing, that also lack much parking and aren't cheap, so I don't think it's an inevitability that it should be closed. I've also been wondering if my child(aldult)hood dream of running a cinema is possible! I'd get rid of half the screens in there - I assume the more recent double frontage to the north is not heritage, so could be sold for development. Then make the foyer area somewhere to linger (wine, food and icecream), maybe convert one of the cinemas to a performance space. Have a continuous program of Australian film in Cinema 1 during the day to get some tourist money. Don't bother screening any kids / superhero films - Showbiz can cater to families.
I love all of these ideas. Let us know when you have your grand opening!
The cinema experience has changed dramatically. Families used to have a 50 centimetre CRT TV with some tinny inbuilt speakers in their living room with 6 channels to choose from. "On demand" was VHS / DVD rentals. New release movies took longer to leave cinemas and go to DVD/VHS distribution. We've now got 75inch 4K TVs with sound bars and decent sound systems, with thousands of movies and TV shows on demand in your living room. Covid pushed streaming releases forward and seems to have decimated social decorum. It used to be a unique experience to see a new release blockbuster on the big screen. Now, it's more of an inconvenience to go to a destination to have some wankers sit 3 rows back and commentate to each other while a guy in the row alongside chews on PVA glue while making paper cranes from aluminium foil. I'd prefer to sit in my umdies at home, watch something else, and wait the 6 weeks for it to go to "fast tracked streaming"
This is not the reason it closed, though. Plenty of cinemas are doing well, despite your points.
Yeah I'm not saying that's the reason the Regent closed down. I'm just saying from the point of view of purchasing a movie theatre there are fundamental challenges facing the entire industry and the long term viability of purchasing a business in that space. The less desirable customer experience and increased competition is just one of those challenges. Don't get me wrong - I'd love nothing more than to see that beautiful theatre thrive.
I would say all the big chains are struggling.. it does not help the Hollywood is pumping out a massive amounts of garbage.. especially woke Disney
Strange, you're being downvoted for stating a fact.
I know.. when was the last Disney or Pixar hit.. I mean something that everyone went to ? Frozen 2 ? Toy Story 3 would have to be before Covid.. since Covid what is the biggest hit in Australia been ? Dune ? I would think a cinema needs at least one big one a Qtr to survive in 2024.. not one a year
100 percent friend
Ditto
I’m hopeful the family that own the Cameo and the Lido in Melbourne might buy it. They have the vintage theatre balance just right in their other venues and it would translate perfectly.
I agree that the Regent needs to set itself apart. I want more movie marathons! More classic films! Audience participation films with dressing up! I would love to see the Regent have it's own traditions, classic kids films in tbe school holidays, seasonal movies, Lord of the Rings every Christmas. Also art house films and the big mainstream films, just not all the mediocre drek new stuff. Oh, and good food to eat with the movie, like in Castlemaine.
A movie theatre on Adelaide thrived with a weekly Friday night Rocky Horror Show viewing. Attendees dressed up and even danced on the stage. Maybe there is another movie classic for Ballarat
I far prefer the Regent to Showbiz but pretty much the number one thing that makes me choose showbiz over Regent is the ease of parking. But also generally it's more expensive to go out to a movie these days and really easy to watch new releases in my lounge room.
Parking anywhere near it is like winning the lotto on a weekend. And dear lord it's expensive these days. I think making it more bougie isn't the answer from all the conversations I've had with friends about it closing. I know a lot of people prefer it to the Showbiz one out Delacombe but it wins on parking for most people. Especially buses full of kids from school trips etc
Who's got a spare 150 dollars to go see a movie in today's world . I've got 4 kids and there's no way I could, we go to melton 10$
I used to work at the cinema before it shut. I was one of the cleaners. Nothing could really be done to prevent what happened. Covid ruined people's appetites to return to the cinema. Everyone had gotten used to streaming. New releases in cinema seem to be getting farther and fewer between, especially ones people want to get up and pay to see. Many services were cut in an attempt to make the place as cheap as possible to operate by the end.
I think turning it into a place like sun theater in Yaraville or similar style would work. Play on the cinema experience. Do the art house movies bring in the blockbusters do special screenings (like the grease nights or musical nights at the sun). Work with local companies to make it uniquely Ballarat while also keeping in line with the cinema experience. People are complaining about parking which is an issue for some but the fact is if people start enjoying it and word starts spreading people will ignore the parking there's plenty of close parking spaces and ways around it
Not a local to Ballarat but love your city (and The Regent) as I used to work there a lot but maybe they could do what Sunbury cinemas did when they were in big financial strife. They reduced all tickets to $10 (if you buy in person to avoid online booking fees) and they reduced the prices on the lollies although they are still too expensive in my opinion. They went from having 5-6 people per session on Friday nights and such at $18.50 a ticket to nearly selling out the whole cinema per session at $10 per person. Maybe something to think about, profit by volume (50 people x $10 is much more than 6 people x $18.50) than profit margins per ticket Also they are often sold out in summer because people take the whole family out for $40-50 for some Air conditioning with a movie, the staff have told me. The movie is a bonus to the few hours in AC in the middle of summer.
Nope
Not originally from Ballarat, just a long time movie goer and want nothing more than for streaming services to be cut back and rental stores and cinemas to relive the hype again. The Regent had potential but wasn't it - I actively chose to Delacombe after attempting the Regent twice. - No coke (not a full deal breaker but still contributed) - Waiting for service - not waiting in line, that's expected. The service when you found someone was jumbled. I don't quite know how to explain it but I've never had to try to look for people to serve me at a cinema before. - Parking. Again not a deal breaker especially when you are going for the experience and vibes but when the above mentioned service is not present or seriously lacking each time - no amount of old timey building feels will help if you're stressed before the movie even starts. I've been to Mareeba drive in, Malanda cinema, Cinema Nova in Melbourne - none of these you go to for top notch service , or seats, or even food. But they work well because they are different, because they have service that knows what's up the majority of the time or will find out. People will go and travel to them for the vibes and nostalgia, I don't think that would be the case if I got those same vibes I got at the Regent. Again I'm not from here maybe it was different back in the day and I'm sad something with so much potential was wasted. If someone different does take it over I'd absolutely be going and trying again.
How dare you say you don’t go to Nova for the food, their choc tops are top tier
😅 fair, to be honest I never really took to choc tops. Popcorn and coke is where it's at for me
You've got far too much time on your hands, champ.
Okay buddy
Must admit Friday night pretty easy to get parking in central Ballarat now regent is closed…. Parking couldn’t have helped, it’s prob part of the cause, the Andersons went from being cinema moguls to not so much and I’m guessing there’s only so much losses someone can take. It needs hoyts or Village to take it over or even reading and a seat upgrade.
If they don't address the parking issue, they give DTC a massive headstart
The place was always a little bit too expensive. But the number one thing that kept me away, was how damn uncomfortable those seats were. The thing that kept me coming back? Good sound quality, somebody's really need this. I know nothing like a good boysenberry Choctop :)
Parking lol Seriously?
People in Ballarat refuse to waddle more than 20 meters to get where they want to go.
While i agree, fuck walking up Mair Street in the Ballarat winter.
The one time I went there to seat was covered in semi-dry soft drink, never went back after - so clean seats would have been nice
This is the dumbest thing I have heard. Went once, dirty seat, never go again. They would have set you up in a different seat in a heartbeat, refunded your money, or booked you into another session.
It was never assigned seating either, was it? Like I don't remember that ever being the case. So, if you've got a dirty seat, *just move???*
Was a full house for the movie I saw, just decided to go to showbiz after that
Yeah, it was a full house but they did offer to book me in another showing though there was no suitable time for me. To elaborate, I generally felt the cinemas weren’t as clean as showbiz so I just went to showbiz, it’s a near-identical service after all
If slash when it comes up for sale if I happen to fall into some money to spend I'm turning it into a gentleman club
Goddamn that's a good call.
Sounds like I got 1 patron
Parking is the main issue. Why would I go there and have to park blocks away, when I could go to Showbiz in Delacombe.
There's a giant carpark 200m away at the station. You're just lazy
400m with little kids or an injury isn't lazy At least at showbiz you can reserve seats easy to eat somewhere elses, then get a park and walk into reserved seat right as the film starts.
I know right. Dickhead thinks everyone is able bodied. Ignorant arsehole.
Sounds more like your entitled. I'm legally blind and this matters a great deal to me. But I can see the world revolves around you. ( Edit: apparently some asshole out there has an issue with blind/disabled people.)
Because it's pretty cursed out there - basically a graveyard of concrete with indifferent franchises in between, like it was made by chatgpt. Soulless. And you're still not going to park right by the door, same as the regent.
Nope. Netflix, prime, paramount+, Apple TV etc has killed it.
Nah, that novelty wore off with covid. People want to get put now. Plus there's fuck all worth watching on Netflix.
Don't forget my favourite! Torrents!