Funding boost brings new community cinema to Brookenby
An exciting new project that will host a community cinema experience for residents is going ahead thanks to council funding support.
Brookenby Venue, led by co-director Mike Swanning, is transforming the old Sergeant’s Dining Hall at the former RAF station into Astra in the Wolds, a welcoming community cinema that will serve Brookenby, Binbrook and the surrounding towns and villages.
The building, which had been unused for many years, required significant refurbishment before it could reopen to the public.
To support the project, West Lindsey District Council has provided £13,000 to replace windows and fire doors that were in urgent need of repair. In addition, £500 was awarded through local Councillor Tom Smith’s Councillor Initiative Fund to help with
further improvements.
The investment forms part of the council’s wider commitment to the local area, which includes more than £62,000 in funding across the Wold View ward in the past 18 months.
Mike Swanning said the support has made a huge difference getting the project underway.
He said: “The Sergeant’s Dining Hall has been unused for many years and was in a poor state of repair. We’ve been supported by Brookenby Parish Council, Councillor Tom Smith and West Lindsey District Council, both with making things easier and
with financial support.
“When it’s up and running, the facility will provide a small, very cosy, community cinema where people can enjoy films on the big screen with an excellent sound system, without needing to travel to Grimsby, Cleethorpes or Lincoln.”
Coun Tom Smith, ward member for Wold View, said: “The £500 I awarded as part of my Councillor Initiative Fund has given them seed money so the project can get off the ground and receive other grants. In Brookenby, this is the hub and there is no
other place for community gatherings or community events, so it’s important to support community spaces like these.
“I still have that deep personal connection with my late father serving in the RAF. I want to make sure it flourishes because it’s been through a lot since it was no longer used as a base and I want to help in any way I can.”
Once complete, the Astra in the Wolds community cinema will offer accessible, local entertainment for residents who want to enjoy the cinema experience closer to home.
Grant White, Communities Manager at West Lindsey District Council, said: “It’s great to see the difference this new community cinema will make for local residents. As a council, we’re committed to helping communities thrive and removing barriers to access. Projects like this are so important because they give people in rural areas a welcoming space to come together and enjoy a cinema experience without the cost and inconvenience of travelling further afield.”