1. Regal Cinema
There are several remarkable features about this
J D Wetherspoon's enterprise; not least that it is
an entirely new pub, opened on the 1st of September
1999.
Furthermore, it is certainly the first pub in Norwich
to occupy the building (not the site) of a large
purpose-built cinema.
The Regal Cinema, Dereham Road, with over 900 seats,
was built in 1938. Its decline, after the war, and long
periods either empty (closed by 1958) or used as a
Bingo Hall, are rather by the way . . . .
(The Mayfair Bingo Hall closed in 1990).
A pre-war photo is on page 62 of
PLUNKETT, George : Commemorative Collection.
2. The Project
Wetherspoon's purchased the property in 1998,
and allegedly spent a million pounds upon it.
It was intended to hold up to 300 customers.
However, the design difficulties, plainly inherent in such
an unusual conversion, mean that an exploratory visit
to the (now ex- !) J. D. Wetherspoon's house is a "must".
It is situated next door to what was the Barn Tavern,
long since closed; giving considerable irony to
the whole matter of attracting custom (or not!).
Wetherspoon's use their own "modern" marketing style,
which is usually more successful than "tied" pubs,
such as The Barn, have been in recent years.
To add insult to injury, the City Gate's Beer Garden
extends to the Inner Ring Road (Barn Road), so the
re-modelled premises completely surround the old pub.
Adrian Hennessy describes the interior style as
'1930s Art Deco'; but this is not surprising in a
former cinema. He also finds the toilets to be very
impresssive; even after the first ownership change (q.v.)
3. Competition and Changes
Finally, there are fascinating issues regarding the
new pub's nearest competitor (i.e. still in business) :
previously, and once again (2004), the Reindeer,
just across the highway.
The rivalry between the two pub-chains :
Wetherspoon's and Firkin Brewery, was -
for under 4 years - rather interesting.
But not so interesting as the fact that both commercial
"giants" departed the scene and handed over to other
owners, in late 2003.
In the case of the City Gate they were
London & Edinburgh Inns (16th December 2003);
and - a shade earlier - at the 'new' Reindeer,
a first outlet in the City for Elgood's Brewery
of Cambridge.
Continued . . .
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4. The Regal (again)
Adrian Hennessy reported a change of management
(not ownership) in 2006, resulting in a variety of
live bands and stand-up comedy.
However, London & Edinburgh Inns went bust
in September 2006.
By June 2008 the ownership of the City Gate had
changed again; and - for once, a sensible and welcome -
change of name to Regal occurred.
The 2008 change of ownership had its own
repercussions before long. Within a short while,
the pub attracted the regular interest of the City police.
However, by 25th February 2010, plans to extend the
licensing hours have been withdrawn after it was hit
with two noise abatement notices because of
neighbours' complaints.
Sarah Ladi, licensee had applied to extend the hours for
live music and the sale of alcohol and for additional
licensable activities in the form of dancing.
The City Council issued two noise abatement notices
- one on the supervisor and the other on the premises
licence-holder - which means it cannot host any
live music events.
Officers had paid a visit to measure the pub's noise
levels, and deemed the noise level to be a statutory nuisance.
Ms Ladi said there was, therefore, no point
applying for the variation in the licence.
5. The Police View
She said the application was also unlikely to get
approval after the pub was branded a hotbed of crime
and violence by Norfolk police, who objected to the
licence extension and claimed that anti-social behaviour
had surged since the start of last year with drug use
and alcohol-fuelled violence.
Police blamed the rise in problems on the poor
management of the premises.
Ms Ladi said : I have always been very co-operative
with the police. According to our records, police have
only been called to our premises for crime issues
on 16 occasions since October 2008.
A lot of the things that the police blame us for
happened outside and away from the pub, which
had nothing to do with us.
Police said it had dealt with more than 30 incidents
of crime and disorder at the pub in the last year,
many resulting in the ejection and/or arrest of
one or more people.
They said crimes included possession of cannabis,
harassment, causing alarm or distress, theft from
a fruit machine, malicious wounding and criminal damage.
They have also had to deal with excessive noise, rowdy
or violent behaviour, weapons, drunken people, drugs
and assaults.
Licensing officer Richard Mayer said : The police
believe the underlying cause of these crimes and
other incidents are aligned with ineffective
management practices currently employed at the premises.
They also believe excessive amounts of alcohol
have been a highly contributory factor.
6. Latest News
Sadly, little can be said for the new name from
October 2010. Ownership is as vague as ever . . .
See Details for later events.
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