LOUIS and Sophie Mundin have won praise for reopening the Rex cinema in Wilmslow and restoring the building to its former glory.

The praise comes from landlords Peter and Jonathan Stansby, who said they had been delighted to receive a viable plan to reopen the Rex as a cinema.

Peter and Jonathan said: “The Rex Wilmslow re-opening as a cinema has been receiving welcome news coverage, and we would like to give a landlord’s perspective.

“The buildings are owned by a family business, WW Stansby and Sons Ltd, whose founder Walter Stansby built the Rex in 1936.

“He and his sons Kenneth and John managed the theatre and cinema for many years, but sadly in 1993 it had to be closed due to low audience numbers.

“Instead a bookshop was opened by one of Walter’s grandsons Paul and the furniture store Multiyork followed.

“WW Stansby became a property company now managed by grandsons Peter and Jonathan.

“When Multiyork ceased to trade we were delighted to receive viable business propositions to restore the Rex as a cinema.

“We were surprised to learn there has been a resurgence of interest in cinema going nationally, albeit at the luxury end.

“Although there were more lucrative non-cinema offers, we could clearly see the revival of the cinema could help creating more cultural interest and business activity in the heart of Wilmslow.

“The Mundins, also a family business, were clear front-runners to take the lease for the cinema, and have done a great job in making the Rex a luxury cinema with two screens, keeping all original artefacts available, and giving a feel of the old place in a thoroughly modern context.

“On a personal level it feels good to see the cinema alive again; John, Kenneth and Walter would be very pleased.”