WORK will begin in days on bringing the big screen back to Wincanton.

S&B Cinemas team has secured ownership of the Art Deco former cinema-turned-bingo hall-turned-church building, in South Street, and is planning on creating a three-screen venue showing the latest Hollywood movies.

Your Somerset Leveller got an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the property, as work gears up to begin this month to convert the empty building into a state-of-the-art cinema.

Behind the plan is Pat Scott, of S&B Cinemas, who wants to create a cinema welcomed by the people of Wincanton because he “believes in these smaller-town cinemas”.

S&B already runs successful venues in Frome, Minehead, and the original cinema, in Burnham-on-Sea, converting and updating properties to create small, welcoming venues.

And despite widely-circulated reports of declining audiences for movies on the big screen, Pat believes the family-run ethos of S&B venues makes their cinemas different.

“I believe we’ve got it right,” he said. “The theatres that are doing well are the ones that look after the customer – and that is what we do.”

As for an opening date in Wincanton, the S&B team – including builder John and architect Phil, as well as Pat’s wife Beryl, their faithful dog Janie and financial backer, Lloyds Bank – are confident film fans will be picking up their popcorn in the town before the end of the year, and possibly even earlier.

READ MORE: Wincanton is getting a three-screen cinema

The original Plaza Cinema in Wincanton opened in 1934, but was converted into a bingo hall in 1970. In 1989, films were once again shown at the South Street cinema, but the venue closed in 1992. In 1999, it was taken on by Wincanton Community Church, but has been vacant since 2014.

The S&B team, and Wincanton resident Suki Addington, in the South Street building – where work will begin on the new cinema in days. Picture: Somerset Leveller