Angry members call for extraordinary meeting after changes at Regent Centre in Christchurch

ANGRY members of the Regent Centre in Christchurch have called for an extraordinary meeting after claiming that radical changes are being made without consulting them.

In recent months, the museum has closed, opening times have been slashed at the coffee shop and bars, and the hugely popular Christmas spectacular has been axed in favour of a pantomime.

A fed-up Regent member revealed: “We just get an email telling us this is what is happening, with absolutely no discussion with us about it.

“In the past the coffee shop and bars were open at 10am which gave people at least a couple of hours before performances and the films but now it is just 15 minutes before movies and 45 before shows.

“People used to arrange to meet friends at the Regent an hour or so before the shows or films to have a chat and enjoy a drink, but now they have virtually no time at all.

“By the time you’ve queued up it’s time to take your seat.”

A notice about the extraordinary meeting on 23rd February states: “The members of the Regent Christchurch have asked the company to call an extraordinary general meeting due to concerns that have been raised regarding the running of the Regent which is a registered charity.

“Many members and volunteers have become disenfranchised in recent months and feel they are being pushed away after many years of loyal service to the venue. The popular cinema tours have also been cancelled and there is a general feeling that the once-proud beacon of Christchurch is fast fading. Even the Union Flag has gone!”

Membership costs £2 a year and members have voting rights at the centre’s general meetings.

The member said the extraordinary meeting had been called because people are “fed up with decisions being made about the centre with no-one having a say”.

He said: “We have no idea why the opening times at the bars and coffee shops have been reduced.

“It’s completely ruined the whole thing for a lot of people, not to mention the fact the amount the Regent make from selling refreshments must have drastically decreased.

“There are lots of elderly people for whom getting together with friends at the Regent for a coffee and cake or a drink before seeing something together was a regular thing.

“When you tell them the new rules now, they are completely mystified.

“I have been a volunteer for years at the centre, taking tickets and selling drinks. But there is no point in me travelling all that way just for about an hour.”

The member said there had also been anger about the way a mini museum at the centre was “just closed and packed away” without any notice.

They said: “The people who curated it were not even invited in to help store stuff away, in fact we don’t really know where any of it is.

“We used to have schools and disabled people come for backstage tours which included the museum.

“But the tours have also been stopped on the grounds of health and safety.”

“There were rumours the Christmas Spectacular which has always been a huge draw was being replaced by a panto, but nothing has been said by management – and then last week they posted messages about having a panto on the centre’s social media.”

“We are hoping to make it clear at the meeting that we are not happy about the changes and want to be consulted about things going forward.”

Chris Humphries, vice-chair of the Regent board, said: “The concerns have been raised by some of our members and as they have requested, we will be discussing the points raised at the meeting on Sunday. We are looking forward to full and frank discussions with the members and hope to find a way forward that is positive for the Regent and its members. It is a shame that a member would feel the need to contact the press before the meeting has had an opportunity to take place.

“The Regent, as with many other theatres and cinemas, has struggled financially since Covid. It has been the work of the current, and previous boards to ensure that the charity remain financially viable. We have benefited from numerous governments grants over recent years which have helped to defray what could have been more serious losses. For the first time in recent years the Regent expects to declare a small surplus for 2024/25

“Over the last few years, the Regent staff and board have been looking for ways to increase the offer to our audiences particularly across the important Christmas weeks. We are pleased to announce the Regent will have, for the first time, a professional pantomime presented in partnership with Polka Dot Pantomimes.

“All other concerns raised will be addressed at our members meeting on Sunday. We believe the board’s first discussions should be with its members.”