Company agrees 25-year Stag lease

The Stag was reopened from the closed down Sevenoaks Playhouse

A new long-term deal has been signed for the running of a revamped arts and entertainment venue in a Kent town.

Kino Holdings Ltd has signed a 25-year lease to operate the Stag cinema and theatre in Sevenoaks.

The company was already in charge of the venue on an interim basis after it briefly closed a year ago because of financial problems.

In the past year Kino Holdings has invested in digital cinema projectors and new facilities for young people.

Sevenoaks District Council said the interim tenure since October 2006 had witnessed more than 25,000 people attending film screenings, and about 10,000 people taking seats for 168 theatrical performances.

Councillor Felicity Broomby, the council's cabinet member with responsibility for the arts, said: "We are delighted the long term agreement is in place allowing Kino to make further investment and improvement."

Kino Holdings has been running youth programmes through the Stag, including "Play in a Day" theatre activities.