Lincolnista the guide to Lincoln, UK.

Get your bum Off The Bench and on to a seat at Lincoln’s new cinema!

Friday, 6th January 2012 Written by: The Editor

Community Interest Company Off The Bench have released news that they intend to refurbish and redevelop the old Ritz Cinema on Lincoln’s High Street.

Off The Bench or OTB for short have been making waves in Lincoln over the past 12 months with multiple projects usually based around youth engagement and have been key partners in The Showroom development on Tritton Rd.  Along with a host of other projects announced for OTB in 2012 one of the most exciting is the news that they are taking over the top 2 floors of the Ritz Wetherspoons pub and opening it back up as a cinema.

Pete Genders, CEO of OTB revealed that the development is expected to house a 450 seat cinema and would show a mix of new films as well cater for those interested in foreign and niche film market plus hold special themed nights.  Pete said that whilst the cinema that once was present in the Ritz building still remains to a certain extent a full restoration project will be needed with work expected to go well into 2012.

Given OTB’s voluntary sector background and the type of work they are currently involved with it’s no suprise that the cinema will serve a multitude of different needs for bringing the local community together by breaking down barriers between social groups and ethnicities. 

With ticket prices set to be around 50% of the cost of going to the Odeon this is fantastic news for the City and following a campaign in 2011 to try and force the Lincoln Odeon into lowering its high prices in comparison with cinemas in adjacent towns this news has been met with great delight from Lincoln Residents.