Located in the heart of East Midlands, Derbyshire, the Elite Cinema has been reborn
into a 120-seat cinema.

The Elite Cinema was opened in the 1930s by local proprietor Frank S. Bromwich. It
was an upmarket cinema also designed by Frank with a large auditorium that seated
550 guests. The cinema closed in 1976 and remained empty for several years.

The venue was eventually converted into a shopping arcade and nightclub. The
building was split into two, as the dance floor cut the auditorium horizontally. The
architecture of the building has mostly stayed the same, with the upper proscenium
arch remaining and some ceiling decoration.

With ambitious plans to create a social hub for the community, the nightclub closed in
2020, and plans to recreate the space into a cinema and restaurant were submitted.

Fast forward to May 2023, after a couple of delays due to the pandemic, a new
cutting-edge cinema was reborn and opened its doors to the public on the 23rd of
May. The cinema consultant for the new Elite acting for Client, Mikijohns Enterprises
Ltd, was Bill Chew Architect Ltd, a well-known architect in cinema design circles.

The Elite cinema chose Ferco Paragon 588 seats, which are sleek and modern in
design. Every single seat in the Paragon range is ergonomically designed and
extensively tested for durability at our in-house facility. Paragon seats combine
superior comfort with outstanding value and feature a wide range of customisable
options and accessories to meet the needs and expectations of today’s cinema operator
and their patrons.

With 120 Paragon 588 seats installed by Ferco, the Elite cinema gives locals a central
social hub and an opportunity to connect and be entertained through shared
experiences.

To discuss any aspect of cinema seating design or the installation of fixed seating,
please contact: info@fercoseating.co.uk or drop us a call: 01743 761244

Photo Credits: ‘ThreeSixSevenNine’ Photography, Ashbourne