A Cinema for Newmarket

In March 2022 we presented the concept of a cinema in The Subscription Rooms in Newmarket High Street where the Horseracing Museum used to be.

There was a very enthusiastic response from residents and numerous conversations followed with potential operators.

The idea was progressed by the Newmarket Charitable Foundation (NCF) who proudly opened Newmarket’s first cinema in almost 50 years – Kings Cinema - in the Kings Theatre in April this year.

Josh Schunmann, Executive Director of the NCF said: “Whilst the charity has been responsible for delivering the cinema, the response to the consultation in March 2022 was certainly the catalyst behind it.”

Potential future uses for the The Subscription Rooms are still being discussed.

Inside Newmarket

Newmarket’s population stands at just over 21,000 and is expected to grow considerably in this current decade but space for new homes, businesses and public parks are constrained by the A14, the railway and land used for the thoroughbred racing and breeding industry. All options for sustainable growth need to be carefully considered to enhance the town’s unique way of life – including its position as the world’s preeminent horseracing cluster.

Beyond Newmarket

In July 2023, the previous government announced plans to invest in Cambridge as Europe’s Silicon Valley. Cambridge 2040 identifies up to 250,000 additional homes over the next two decades, alongside land for business parks, laboratories and science hubs, which would potentially treble the size of the city. Even if development in Cambridge is more modest, there is still a strong likelihood that growth to the east of the city is likely to make Newmarket an even more attractive place to live and work.

Newmarket needs to remain a strong and thriving town in its own right. Without a clear vision and plan there is a risk that Newmarket’s unique way of life could be damaged which, in turn, could affect its ability to thrive in the future.