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Artist Janey Curley Cannon said the announcement was "very good news" for Bracknell
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What Does Bracknell Think: Reaction to Cineworld

By Becky Barnes
October 05, 2012

Last week it was announced Cineworld is coming to Bracknell after bosses agreed a 25-year lease. We asked whether this changed their views on Bracknell’s regeneration and what shops and restaurants they would like to see.

Peter Smith, of The Better Business Alliance: “What tremendous news that Cineworld is coming to Bracknell. At last, something that with the addition of new restaurants will begin to give Bracknell a much-improved night life.

“I have always thought it was amazing that with an excellent local Indian restaurant, a Chinese/chippy and a takeaway pizza in Priestwood we compared favourably with the centre of town. Now we need some new department stores – John Lewis would be a good start – and a decent-sized M&S and/or H&M.

“A good Italian restaurant, an authentic Greek and a classy Indian would also do something to enhance the late scene in the town.

“I sincerely believe that by the time the development has reached its maturity the economy will once again be bouncing and the developers will be pleased they had the foresight to start things off during our current more challenging times.

“Well done Helen (Barnett) and the regeneration team for bringing this about after a lot of work and effort over the past few years. Keep up the good work.”

Cineworld "major step forward for regeneration"

Janet Curley Cannon, artist at Gallery@49 in Broadway: “This is very good news for Bracknell and a positive step forward for the regeneration, though for people to really believe it there needs to be signs of it starting soon.

“There have been announcements for Winchester House and the medical centre, even buildings demolished, but then nothing.

“So despite the fact it means our premises will be demolished and we need to find a new home, I really hope this can happen.

“I would love to see a variety of restaurants with waiter service, not just more fast food pizza and burger places.

“Of course, it would also be nice if an area could be planned for local art exhibitions by students, the Bracknell Camera Club, and regional artists.”

Darren Bridgman, Bracknell blogger: “I’m pleased something is happening. If it’s restaurants and shops like we have in Camberley or Basingstoke redevelopments, then that will be very positive for Bracknell.

“However, another cinema complex so close to the Odeon seems to be a bad idea.

“Let’s hope it brings down cinema prices.

“I’ll be in the Red Lion deciding which cinema to go to.”

Kayne Steinborn-Busse, head of sales and marketing at APC Overnight in Bracknell: “I feel it is a good step forward. However, there have been a number of false dawns.

“I guess when they start to lay the bricks the people of Bracknell will believe it’s finally happening.

“It would be great to have choice like in Camberley where you can go for a family meal, or a night out they have a good broad selection of restaurants – Nandos, Pizza Express, Wagamama to name a few.

“It will be good to have such brands in Bracknell and it will be a needed boost to the local economy.

“Bracknell must become a destination of choice something it has not been now for a number of years.”

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I would like to see diversity, unfortunately there is no place in BRP for anything other than huge corporations that will take long leases.

There is no provision whatsoever for community shops, small, local and independent retailers, restaurateurs, arts or entertainments.

We will have no secondary shops, not small shops, no local shops, no independent restaurants, nothing, just big brand chains with lots of money and we will have exactly the same town centre as all the others in the country, with nothing to differentiate ours, apart from being new and being nearer.

The new shine will wear off and in 10 years it will be okay, in 40 years we will be back to where we were 10 years ago and in 50 it will be the same as it is now.

We missed the opportunity to break out of this boom and bust cycle, (which is highly profitable for the owners) and evolve into a conventional town, with small improvements happening all the time.

How the council was duped into this, one has to wonder, but now it is here and happening, we should get on with it.

I think the council should put pressure on BRP to make sure that there is a diversity of tenants, property styles and rents to make sure we have the kind of diversity that a great town centre needs.