'˜Dubai class in Hastings' - new luxury cinema opens

Described by one impressed visitor as ‘a bit of Dubai class in Hastings’, the cinema at the Sussex Exchange boasts 30 reclining leather seats, with plenty of leg room, and minibars for guests in the six VIP seats.

Last Friday’s (August 5) champagne launch is the culmination of seven months of hard work by managing director Elie Fakhoury and the team.

Elie and the team took over The Sussex Exchange in June last year and have been busy revamping the building, which stands on Queensway.

The cinema project, costing almost a quarter of a million pounds, is the latest phase of improvement work.

The cinema used to be a lecture room which was ‘severely under-used’ according to Emma Trouse from the management team.

She said: “We started talking about it in January and the revamp started in March.

“There have been long nights for the team and hard work, but it’s finally here.”

Emma said: “We are looking to attract some mature couples who are looking for somewhere they can come and use the cinema and have dinner or a drink afterwards.

“The kind of people who want to have the experience all in one place.”

However Emma says the Sussex Exchange welcomes film fans of all ages, adding: “We are trying to attract all members of the public who are interested in having a luxury experience.

“Why not make a night of it and visit the restaurant and enjoy a meal then head down to the cinema?”

The team stressed they were not trying to compete with other established independent cinemas or cinema chains.

Emma said: “We are not competing with the Odeon, we are trying to create something where people can have their VIP seat reclined with a minibar because they are people who want that experience.

“I think it’s amazing what has happened in a year and the people who work here are so hardworking and have the same passion to create that.”

Visit https://cinema.thesussexexchange.co.uk/ for listings or further information about what the Sussex Exchange has to offer.

* Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/ 2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/hastingsobserver

3) Follow us on Twitter @HastingsObs

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Hastings Observer - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.