Ambitious plans for a new cinema, arts and heritage centre in Hoylake have been revealed.
The proposed Beacon centre would be located on the site of the old Hoylake lifeboat station, currently the Hoylake Lifeboat Museum. The building would contain a 120-seat auditorium for film viewing, café/bistro, restaurant and art exhibition/display space.
The project would be a commercial enterprise, not a community-run one like the current Hoylake Community Cinema.
If I recall correctly, the current building is owned privately and let to the Lifeboat Museum and the adjacent triangle of land is owned by Wirral Council – is that still the case? Presumably if the project went ahead the Lifeboat Museum would close with perhaps some exhibits kept on display within the new centre?
You can find out all about the proposed scheme by visiting the website. Do read the first blog post to find out about the project background.
It’s certainly an interesting proposal – but what do you think? Have your say in the comments below.
This would be truly welcomed in Hoylake and surrounding villages. It would be well used as so many people miss having a cinema here. When I was child we used to go on a Saturday morning as ours parents did their shopping in the village! Also people wouldn’t have to travel by car to go to watch a film, I believe it would benefit all in the community and its vicinity. I personally would buy an annual membership, like I have for FACT in Liverpool as would many others…bring the pictures back to Hoylake!
Looks a fantastic plan! Genius! Congratulations to the team working on this plan.
I will never forget walking home from the Winter Gardens on windy evenings hearing the noise of rigging in the wind from the HSC boat yard and the call of oystercatchers from the darkness of the beach.
Talking of darkness, can there be a campaign to replace the absurdly tall street lights on the North Parade which are more suited to a motorway junction? They make for a horribly cluttered streetscene and must disrupt the nightime views with excess light.
Like Peter I remember the Winter Gardens very well. So it looks possible now after years of no cinema on that site that once again there could be an arts centre etc which does look attractive.
I can understand that having anew cinema sounds great, but I would wonder if giving up the history of the lifeboat service is worth it.
Good to see positive comments on here about the ‘fledgling’ of an idea in development that looks to uplift our town
What a fabulous idea to bring a cinema back to Hoylake. Wonderful memories of Saturday mornings at the Winter Gardens to see Disney movies! Please make this project happen!
Thanks for the positive comments Dave.
It is early days yet and viability will be the key issue.
But with good local feedback and a lot of local public support I’m sure there could be a potential developer out there that may be warm to the idea.
Back in 2010 I led the campaign to save the old lifeboat station and in 2011 founded Hoylake Lifeboat Museum. The boathouse proudly exhibits the last Hilbre Island lifeboat Chapman which my Dad and I discovered, derelict, in 1999. The museum has achieved a great deal but, without the intended cafe, has not progressed as it might. It requires an economic engine and this new and exciting venture should certainly be both viable and a real asset to the community. There are always upsides and downsides but I really hope there is a positive outcome for the Beacon project and that the much-loved Victorian boathouse is retained. . Life moves on and the best prospects for the museum might well be to morph into something new. Maybe the new Heritage Centre should focus on other aspects of Hoylake’s past and present, with the focus on our 212 year lifeboat history being concentrated on the RNLI in the wonderful new lifeboat station.. . There is already a degree of duplication and overlap between the lifeboat museum and the RNLI station. Whatever happens, my intention, as proud owner, would be to see the last Hilbre Island lifeboat remain here and available to our community and future generations.. Good luck everyone involved! John
The trustees of the Museum have only recently been made aware of the Beacon project and have had no input regarding the proposals as they stand. When we were advised of the project, it was put to us that the Museum would continue to operate as an integral part of the centre, as such we were supportive. However, we are very practical people who know the site and the conditions on the Prom extremely well, and given the fact that there appears to be no finance in place and no formal application has yet been made for planning permission, we intend to continue with our work at the Museum and not rely on the fulfilment of this scheme for the Museum’s future.
As an ex resident of Hoylake ,25 years and an Architect. living in Johannesburg .I think it would be wonderful to have a cinema again ,having fond memories of the old Wintergardens.We must make an effort to ensure that it becomes a reality .
I wonder what will really happen to the lifeboat museum considering our region’s history with the service & maritime history.
This could be lost forever and there are cinema’s within driving distince on the Wirral and more than one
The Lifeboat Museum disappeared sometime ago [in 2015]
http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/13321641.New_home_found_for_Hoylake_Lifeboat_museum_s_main_exhibit/