HARD work and determination are breathing new life into Rothesay’s iconic Winter Gardens, saved for future generations with a community buyout.
The grandest of the Grande Dames in her hundred-year old home to Scotland’s finest players is perhaps the country’s ultimate entertainment survivor.
Written off in the 80s, the Winter Gardens defied the odds to come back then and yet again this year as the much-loved building bestrides the bay with a well-deserved smile in her structure.
International screen and theatre actor Maureen Beattie, part of the steering group that’s helped secure funding to buy the building, told The Isle of Bute News it is a venue worth fighting for.
“It’s come under the cosh so many times before, now we’ve got the chance to save it for future generations long after we’re gone.”
The Grade A listed property is presently home to Bute’s cinema, screening a multitude of movies across the week including matinees.
One of the members of the group bringing new life to the Winter Gardens is Dorothy McDonald. She told The Isle of Bute News “it is a steep learning curve”.
She said hosting the picture hall under licence with Visit Scotland will run as planned until March “then seamlessly continue”.
“What we are learning now is going to help us planning the future,” she added.
The Winter Gardens is being purchased by the Bute Community Land Company (BCLC) with a £120,500 grant from the Scottish Land Fund (SLF).
BCLC plans to use the century-old domed building, formerly owned by Visit Scotland, as a cinema and events space.
Maureen Beattie revealed a special event that is coming up on Sunday, February 8: Harry Potter’s Quidditch captain is coming to town.
The Scots actor Sean Biggerstaff will be appearing in person at the Winter Gardens for a chat and Q&A session about another of his roles, Sergeant Donald Odd in the 2016 version of Whisky Galore.
“We’ll have a chat about that and other things and then we’ll run the movie,” said island resident Maureen. “It’s just part of what we want to do with this wonderful place we have.”
She said: “We’re buying this place for the community, it’s for everyone to feel at home in. It’s going to be great.
“I know we’ve still got lots of money to raise and we will because this is part of bringing prosperity to Bute. It’s paradise on earth, it really is.”
The daughter of the hugely popular entertainer, Johnnie Beattie, Maureen said: “I’m not just doing this because of my Dad, but he’s a big part of it.
“He helped to save the place in the past. He said people trying to shut it down and turn it into a car park were Philistines, just Philistines!”
Over the coming weeks, the project leaders seek to extend their steering group, recruiting additional skills and talent to help develop their strategy and clarify the vision for the Winter Gardens.
Dorothy McDonald said it is all very well buying the building, “but we need to safeguard it for the future, for repairs”.
Much work has yet to be done, raising around £700k to upgrade heating and install a café and bar.
“We’re keen to get going, but there’s so much to do.”
The group has had lots of suggestions about the future for the Gardens including running films with related activities including workshops.
“We’re talking to various groups of people including independent film-makers.
“The secondary school is keen to showcase films made by the pupils as well as screening productions to go along with their studies.”
There’s no shortage of ideas for the future use of the building.
As well as mainstream movies, indie film events and concerts are being suggested.
Dorothy McDonald said: “Yes, there are lots of thoughts and suggestions. We’ll need to look at it all to see what will work financially and practically.
“It is daunting, but it’s exciting.”
Richard Whitcomb, chair of BCLC, said the group was “absolutely thrilled” to receive the SLF grant.
“It will not only enable us to secure the future of this much-loved building and the island’s only cinema, but will, we hope, act as a catalyst for creative and exciting events and activities which will benefit the people who live on Bute and its visitors for many years to come,” he said.
The funding injection will help to bring the prospect of further jobs and more opportunities to volunteer in the complex.
The Winter Gardens originally opened in 1924. It was built to enclose a pre-existing open-air bandstand and was used as a variety theatre and music hall.
During the Second World War, the Winter Gardens was a morale booster for the large number of military personnel based in the area as well as many residents.
Foremost in this role was a group called The Rothesay Entertainers, helping to keep peoples’ spirits up with their variety shows during the difficult days of the war.
Scotland’s great variety stars including Johnnie Beattie trod the boards of the Winter Gardens until the lights came on again.
Maureen said: “They brought glamour here before, sometimes doing three shows a day. We’ll bring in a different glamour. It’ll be a place people really want to go to.”
Dorothy McDonald said the key to the future for this great venue is to be “intergenerational” evolving into a space for all, looking back to its past and forward for young people to embrace.
“That way we keep it going for a further hundred years.”
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