The Savoy Cinema has stood tall for generations giving a safe haven to all, but now it is the community who are coming together to save their cinema.
It’s been five years since the Savoy’s grand reopening, when Tony Mundin and his family saved the cinema from closure, giving a new life to the cinema and the community, but now it faces a new battle, the global pandemic.
Due to the national lockdown, the independently managed cinema was forced to close its doors for months with no hope of reopening. Despite the Tier 3 restrictions in place, the Savoy can once again show its films, and history, with new COVID-safe measures.
The cinema is losing its key factor, its ability to bring people together. From using plastic screens in between the seats of allocated household bubbles,, running at reduced capacity, and a lack of new content, the family lead business is struggling.
The cinema has been a staple of the Heaton Moor community since the 1930s. While being
A key feature of the Moor Top trip, its true prominence is with the memories it has given to locals both old and new.
“The Savoy is a really special place that’s right on our doorsteps, it’s a unique building, an independent cinema and not a lot of areas have that,” said Amy Vose, 32, who moved into Heaton Moor just as the Savoy reopened in 2015.
Vose had her wedding scheduled for just eight days after the national lockdown was announced. Undeterred by the cancellation, this school teacher didn’t let it dampen her lockdown mood. She instead decided to use her newfound free time and use it for the greater good.
During the summer, Vose brought the community together by planning a fundraiser for Chester Zoo. She encouraged everyone to decorate their houses in full zoo themed decor to make some noise about the event.
She’s back again with a Halloween fundraiser for her favourite cinema.
With the help of Lisa Ann, who designed the graphics, Arlene Brown, who made the event website, and many other members of the community, they were able to organise the Halloween Town trail in support of the Savoy.
162 locations within the Heatons got involved in decorating their houses in a spooky Halloween or cinematic vibe, all to raise awareness of the fundraiser.
For many families in Stockport, this socially distanced event not only saved Halloween but also brought hope and light for a troubled cinema.
Dunkin Doland even ran the whole length of the half marathon trail as Dr Venkman from Ghostbusters, playing the iconic theme tune as he ran.
When Vose approached the Savoy with the fundraiser, they wanted to give back to everyone who got involved and donated a range of prizes from a private screening, to a year pass for best-decorated houses and best-carved pumpkin.
In response to the fundraiser, Mundin, Owner of the Savoy, said “To have people who have no connection to us tell us how important we are and that they want us to survive and that they’re gonna go do something about it.
“It’s humbling. Who else gets that? What other business gets that? For us to have that, it shows us how important we are [to the community].”
Thanking the community, Mundin reassures us that the ever loved Savoy will continue during this ongoing pandemic, though admits that the reduced capacity as a result of the current restrictions are ‘a bit of a killer’, as he urges the local government to reconsider their persistent destruction of the arts and culture.
However, despite the restrictions, the Savoy is one of many local venues eligible for the government's Culture Recovery Fund, that offers financial aid to organisations that are otherwise struggling during COVID-19.
There are two grants available, the safety grant and the sustainability grant.
“It allows us to break even, keep the doors open, and keep putting films on for the people in the Heatons," Mundin says as he dubs the sustainability grant as ‘fantastic’ as it allows the cinema to remain open until March 2021.
When asked what he’d like to see the government do to help the hospitality business, he admits it's a difficult subject, but would just like to see a bit of transparency and a pathway out of this situation.
Mundin continued “Hospitality is important but all jobs are important. Everybody's jobs need saving.”
Mundin said he believes the Savoy’s unique position in a relatively small urban village is what makes it so special. It’s in the heart of the community.
He credited his neighbouring businesses for its success over the years. Along with the bars, restaurants and independent retailers, it is part of a larger offering. Just like the community, he wants everyone else on the Moor Top strip to survive and thrive during this time. He believes ‘it’s not something you can do on your own’ but is a community effort.
As of October 31, the fundraiser has raised £7,667, destroying the original goal of £1,000. It’s clear to see the people of the Heatons have a soft spot in their heart for this cinema.
“To everyone who has donated, thank you for making a real difference. We will survive this, we will get through this and we’ll be a cinema for years to come because of it.
“You have kept us going financially and believing we have a future,” Mundin reassured those who have donated as we go into the second wave of COVID-19 restrictions.
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