A town centre cinema remains vacant more than a year after it closed, with no plans in the pipeline for its future.

However, the ex-manager of the independently-run New Century Cinema in Sittingbourne High Street says she “would love to get back into the building”.

Swale council says there are no current planning applications for the listed building, which is owned by a private landlord, but insisted it would “support any owners to secure a beneficial use for the premises”.

The cinema, which could hold around 200 people across its two screens, closed in December 2022 after the lease expired.

Clare Ralph, who had run the cinema since 2017, said she had been left heartbroken by the decision at the time.

Speaking a year on from the closure, the 50-year-old says she finds it difficult to see the building in its current state.

She said: “I was really well supported at the cinema with great customers who still speak to me now but the cinema ship seems to have sailed for the building.

“I still find it difficult going into the High Street and looking at the building as there’s something about that has a hold over me.

“I really loved running the cinema and would love to get back in the building.

“If I had it my way I would run it again with a bar and maybe a restaurant and leisure activities downstairs for the kids.

“I don’t think it’ll be knocked down. For one there is Front Row Hairdressing which is still in the building.”

Clare had thanked family, friends and customers for their support during the pandemic after the business took a £25,000 hit.

Barry Perry, 77, and Joyce Sears, from Borden, pointed out that now with the Light Complex, the town has a lot of leisure activities – including a cinema and bowling.

Joyce, 77, said that a rollerskating arena would be something different that the area doesn’t have.

“It should not be turned into flats,” she added, “we have enough of those here”.

Meanwhile, retired engineer Peter Wyeth, 84, said flats “would be alright” as long the character of the building was maintained.

The building opened as an Odeon in 1937. It was sold to Classic Cinemas in December 1967 and was re-named Vogue Cinema but then within a month of opening in January 1968 the building was converted into Vogue Bingo Club.

In 1971 a 111-seat Classic Cinema opened in what had formerly been the restaurant and in 1972 a 300-seat screen opened in the former circle.

The cinemas were then snapped up by the Picturedrome group in 1997 and three years later Real Time Cinemas took over the building, renaming it the New Century Cinema. That shut in 2009 but was refurbished and reopened in 2015 before it finally closed.

Mecca Bingo, which had shared the site, vacated the building in August 2022.