Former RAF Binbrook dining hall set to become community cinema in Brookenby

A disused RAF dining hall in rural Lincolnshire is being given a new lease of life as a community cinema, in a project aimed at bringing film screenings closer to residents who currently travel out of the area for the big-screen experience. The venue, known as Astra in the Wolds, is being created in Brookenby near Market Rasen, inside a room that once formed part of the former RAF Binbrook site. Organisers say the plan is to turn the old sergeants' dining hall into a small and welcoming cinema space for local people.

For many villages in this part of Lincolnshire, access to entertainment can depend on how far people are able or willing to travel. The project's co-director, Mike Swanning, said the aim was to offer a cosy community cinema with a strong sound system, so audiences could enjoy films locally instead of making journeys to places such as Grimsby, Cleethorpes or Lincoln. That local focus is a big part of why the scheme has attracted support.

West Lindsey District Council has awarded grants totalling £13,500 to help upgrade the building. Of that, £500 came from ward councillor Tom Smith's initiative fund as seed funding. Mr Smith said the building was especially important in Brookenby because it acts as a central space in a community with limited options for gatherings and events.

In smaller rural settlements, venues often carry a wider role than simply hosting one activity, and this latest plan reflects that need for flexible, shared spaces. There is also a strong sense of Lincolnshire history behind the scheme. RAF Binbrook remains a familiar name in the county, and the reuse of part of the former base gives the project a link to the area's military past while adapting it for present-day community life.

Mr Smith said he also felt a personal connection because his late father served in the RAF. Grant White, from West Lindsey District Council, said projects of this kind matter because they create welcoming places for people in rural areas to come together, while avoiding the extra cost and inconvenience of travelling further afield. That may resonate with many readers across Lincolnshire, where distance and transport can shape how easily people can access leisure activities.

A local cinema in Brookenby would not only offer film nights nearer to home, but could also help strengthen community ties in an area where shared venues are especially valuable. If completed as planned, the former dining hall will move from being a disused reminder of the county's RAF heritage to a new social hub for modern village life, combining Lincolnshire history with a practical answer to rural isolation.

This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.bbc.com.