The four-screen state-of-the-art complex in White River Place, St Austell beat off tough competition from Zeffirellis in Cumbria and The Lexi in London to bring home the top accolade at the RAAM Management Cinema Awards.
2011 is the seventh year of the RAAM Awards which were established to recognize excellence in the UK and Irish cinema and film distribution industry. More than 200 top executives from the cinema exhibition and film distribution sector attended the gala dinner and ceremony at the Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square, London earlier this week (9 February).
Mark Williams, General Manager of White River Cinema collected the award and commented: “The whole team is absolutely delighted to have received the award so soon after opening – it’s a really fantastic achievement and one which we are all very proud. Our staff have worked incredibly hard and have been hugely dedicated since the cinema opened. I also want to pay tribute to the people of St Austell and the surrounding area for their continued support since the first open days.”
Mark added: “There are a number of people who have contributed to the overwhelming success of White River Cinema including NBDA Architects for their skilful and knowledgeable design, the contracts team at GF Holding, CA Sothers, Sound Associates and Wilden Services for delivering the cinema to a high standard and on-time.”
Tony Meeham, Chairman of RAAM and the awards jury, commented: “The top cinema awards are based on the cinema’s ability to meet public expectations in so far as overall services including; film choice and timing, alternative content, concession offer, theatre comfort and technology.
“Two new cinemas took home the top awards in the UK Circuit and Independent Cinema categories. The White River Cinema St Austell, part of the WTW Cinema Group was the top UK independent cinema and the Vue Cinema in the Westfield cinema Shepherds Bush London collected the top circuit award.”
Other award winners on the night included Walt Disney Pictures, 20th Century Fox and Lord Puttnam was presented with The International Award.
White River Cinema opened its doors to the public for the first time in December 2008 as part of the £75 million St Austell town centre regeneration scheme, White River Place.
Meanwhile, earlier this week WTW Cinemas announced that the new cinema for Newquay would be called ‘Lighthouse Cinema’ and would create 25 new jobs in the town.
Due to open in late spring, it will be the first purpose-built fully-digital cinema in the South West and will feature MasterImage 3D projection in two screens.
Family-run business WTW Cinemas owns and operates cinemas The Plaza in Truro, White River Cinema in St Austell and The Regal in Wadebridge. The new cinema in Newquay is the second phase of the company’s development plan, which included the construction and opening of St Austell’s White River Cinema in December 2008. The third stage will be the refit of the existing Plaza cinema in Truro in 2012. More information about WTW Cinemas can be found at www.wtwcinemas.co.uk
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