Savoy Theatre

What Savoy Theatre does

Savoy Theatre is a community cinema and live entertainment venue located in a Grade 2 listed Art Deco building on Church Street in Monmouth, Wales — described as the oldest known theatre site in Wales. Operated by the Monmouth Savoy Trust (Charity Reg: 1136359) under a lease from the privately owning MacTaggart family, the venue delivers a mixed programme of cinema screenings, live performances (tribute acts, comedy, theatre, music), and special cinema events (filmed West End productions, art exhibition documentaries). Its core technology stack consists of digital projection equipment, an infrared hearing assistance system, and the Ticketsolve online booking platform for advance ticketing.

The business model is a diversified, transaction-driven community entertainment operation with eight revenue streams: cinema ticket sales (£7 adult / £6 child), live event tickets (£10.50–£35, with VIP tiers up to £95), a fully licensed bar and confectionery kiosk, venue hire (private parties, schools, charities, promoters), branded merchandise (mugs, tea towels, bags, books), an annual Friends membership programme (£30 single / £50 joint / £65 family), a 50p online booking transaction fee, and donations/legacy gifts to the charitable Trust. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through the in-person and telephone box office and the Ticketsolve platform; the venue also engages audiences via social media (Facebook, Instagram, X) and an email newsletter.

The audience is primarily the local Monmouth community and surrounding rural catchment, with secondary segments including families (via the Savoy Kids Club partnership with Monmouth Town Council providing free films to all primary school children), private event hirers, and cultural-event enthusiasts. Operations are lean: 4 permanent staff (Director/GM, Head Projectionist/Box Office Manager, two multi-role projectionist/admin staff) plus a freelance Technical Manager, supported by a large volunteer base across bar, kiosk, ushering, and front-of-house, and governed by 7 trustees and 4 high-profile patrons (Julia Donaldson MBE, Sir Tony Robinson, Griff Rhys Jones, Russell Grant). The business was awarded Theatre of the Year in 2019 on the tenth anniversary of the post-restructuring volunteer-led operating model.

Name

Savoy Theatre

Legal name

The Monmouth Savoy Trust

Website

https://monmouth-savoy.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Savoy Theatre is a community cinema and live entertainment venue in Monmouth, Wales, operated by the Monmouth Savoy Trust from a Grade 2 listed Art Deco building. It serves local audiences with films, live performances, and special events, supported by 4 permanent staff, volunteers, and an annual Friends membership programme.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theatre & Cinema Venue

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Motion Picture Theaters (except Drive-Ins) (512131)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)

akta.pro primary industry

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)

Keywords

• Live entertainment venue
• Cinema screenings
• Theatre venue hire
• Community arts charity
• Event ticketing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Monmouth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Cinema Ticket Sales: Regular cinema screenings with ticket prices of £7 for adults, £6 for children aged 3-14, and free admission for children under 3. No booking required for regular cinema showings - walk-ins welcome.
2. Live Event Ticket Sales: Live performances including tribute acts, comedy, theatre productions, music, and special events. Ticket prices range from approximately £10.50 to £35+ depending on the show. VIP and Meet and Greet packages available for some events.
3. Bar and Kiosk Sales: Fully licensed venue with drinks allowed in the auditorium. Confectionery and drinks sold from the kiosk. Policy is to source from local suppliers and only consume food/drink purchased on premises.
4. Venue Hire: Theatre available for hire including private parties (entire theatre hire with film of choice), school/college hire, promoter events, charity use, and paranormal investigation groups.
5. Merchandise Sales: Savoy-themed products including mugs (£6.50), tea towels (£9), sling bags (£10), miniature model kits (£10), greeting cards (£2), and history books (£22.50).
6. Friends Membership: Annual membership program with tiers: £30 single, £50 joint, £65 family. Benefits include 10% off bar and kiosk, 5 films for price of 4, exclusive ticket offers, and Friends Film Night discount.
7. Booking Fees: Transaction fee of 50p added to online tickets. No booking fees for personal callers at box office.
8. Donations and Legacies: The Savoy accepts legacy gifts in wills through Monmouth Savoy Trust (Charity Reg: 1136359). No inheritance tax payable on gifts to the registered charity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Savoy Theatre operates as a community cinema and live performance venue in Monmouth, Wales, showing current and classic films, hosting live entertainment (tribute acts, comedy, theatre, music), and screening special cinema events including West End broadcasts and art documentaries. The venue is also available for private hire, sells branded merchandise, and runs a Friends membership programme with discounted tickets and concessions.

Product overview

Savoy Theatre operates as a dual-purpose entertainment venue offering cinema screenings and live performances in a Grade 2 listed Art Deco building. The core offering consists of: (1) Cinema Screenings showing current releases and classic films without advance booking required; (2) Live Entertainment featuring tribute shows, comedy, theatre, concerts, and spoken word events requiring advance booking via Ticketsolve; and (3) Special Cinema Events including screened theatre productions and art documentaries. The theatre supplements its core entertainment with a membership program (Savoy Friends), a children's cinema club (Savoy Kids Club in partnership with Monmouth Town Council), venue hire services for private events, and branded merchandise including mugs, tea towels, bags, cards, and history books. All purchases from the licensed bar and kiosk are discounted for Savoy Friends members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cinema Screenings Regular film screenings showing current and classic movies at the Savoy Theatre. Tickets are £7 for adults and £6 for children aged 3-14, with free admission for Kids Club card holders and infants under 3. No advance booking is required for regular cinema screenings, with walk-ins welcomed.
• Live Entertainment Live performances including tribute shows, comedy, theatre productions, music concerts, and spoken word events. Show tickets range from approximately £10.50 (children's shows) to £35 (premium comedy/music acts), with VIP and Meet and Greet packages available for select events at up to £95.
• Special Cinema Events Special screened productions including theatre recordings, opera, ballet, and documentary films. Events include live screenings from West End productions and art exhibitions, requiring advance booking via Ticketsolve.
• Savoy Kids Club Membership programme in partnership with Monmouth Town Council providing unlimited free films for all primary school children in Monmouth using a membership card issued by their schools. Free admission applies to U, PG, and 12A certificate films only.
• Savoy Friends Membership Annual membership programme offering 10% off bar and kiosk purchases, buy 4 films get 1 free throughout the year, exclusive Friends ticket offers, Monday night Friends Film Night discounts (£1 off), and a membership card. Single membership £30/year, Joint £50/year, Family £65/year (2 adults and 2 children under 15).
• Theatre Hire (Venue Hire) Venue hire for private parties (entire theatre with film of choice), school and college events, theatrical productions, band performances, charity fundraisers, and paranormal investigations. Party rates are available for drinks and refreshments. Inquiries are directed to the General Manager.
• Savoy Merchandise Theatre-branded merchandise including Savoy mugs (£6.50), tea towels (£9), sling bags (£10), miniature model kits (£10), greeting cards (£2), and history books (£22.50 plus £4 postage). Items sourced locally and from independent artists.
• Licensed Bar and Kiosk Fully licensed venue with drinks allowed in the auditorium. Drinks, confectionery, and snacks are available from the Savoy bar and kiosk, with prices sourced from local suppliers. Savoy Friends members receive a 10% discount on bar and kiosk purchases.

Quantifiable outcome

• Theatre of the Year award in 2019
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Monmouth Town CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Monmouth Town Council to provide the Savoy Kids Club, allowing ALL primary school children in Monmouth to see unlimited free films (U, PG, and 12A certificate) using their Kids Club membership card issued by schools. Free admission applies to eligible films only.
• Monmouth Savoy TrustcoreOthersThe theatre is operated by the Monmouth Savoy Trust (Charity Reg: 1136359). The trust comprises local enthusiasts who run, maintain, and programme the building. The trust employs 4 permanent staff and relies on volunteers.
• MacTaggart FamilycoreOthersThe Savoy is privately owned by the MacTaggart family. Grandfather B.T. Davies was a collector of cinemas and at one stage owned nineteen around the South West and South Wales. The Savoy is the only one left in family ownership. They lease the building to the Monmouth Savoy Trust.
• Local Patrons (Julia Donaldson MBE, Russell Grant, Sir Tony Robinson, Griff Rhys Jones)minorOthersNotable patrons of the Savoy include children's author Julia Donaldson MBE, entertainer and astrologer Russell Grant, actor/broadcaster/writer Sir Tony Robinson, and comedian/broadcaster Griff Rhys Jones.
• Theatrau Sîr GarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner with The Riverfront Theatre, Newport for the play 'Grip of Life', also financially supported by Arts Council of Wales.
• The Riverfront Theatre, NewportminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner with Theatrau Sîr Gar for the play 'Grip of Life', a new play exploring themes of womanhood in mid-life.
• Rossiter BooksminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAssociation with Rossiter Books for author events, such as Ann Cleeves book launch. Tickets sold through Rossiter Books rather than the Savoy box office.
• TicketsolvecoreTechnology or IntegrationProfessional booking system used for online and telephone ticket sales. The 50p transaction fee goes towards paying the charges of this professional booking system.
• Lower Wye Valley Building Preservation TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSavoy event 'An Evening with Rowan Williams' will raise funds for the Lower Wye Valley Building Preservation Trust's efforts to preserve St Mary's Church, Tintern.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Watershed Media Centre: Watershed is a cultural cinema and media centre in Bristol combining independent/art-house cinema with creative technology programming and events. Comparable hybrid venue model with cinema at its core, though with a stronger digital/creative-industry overlay.
• Phoenix Cinema: Phoenix Cinema is a historic independent single-screen cinema in East Finchley, London, operating as a charitable trust since 2009. Closely comparable operating structure (charitable trust, single venue, community focus) and similar heritage cinema positioning.
• Theatr Mwldan: Theatr Mwldan is an arts centre in Cardigan, West Wales combining a cinema, live performance venue, and gallery in a single community-focused operation. Closest peer in terms of rural Welsh setting, dual cinema/theatre programming, and community trust governance.
• Theatr Clwyd: Theatr Clwyd is a major regional theatre in Mold, North Wales offering a mixed programme of drama, comedy, music and cinema-style events to a rural Welsh community. Comparable as a Welsh regional arts venue balancing live performance with broader entertainment programming and community engagement.
• Chapter Arts Centre: Chapter is a multi-artform venue in Cardiff combining cinema, live performance, exhibitions and community programmes under one roof. Highly comparable hybrid cinema/theatre model with strong community focus, although operating at significantly larger scale in an urban setting.
• Theatr Brycheiniog: Community arts venue in Brecon, mid-Wales, presenting live performance, cinema and community events. Comparable as a Welsh rural arts venue offering mixed cinema/live programming with community engagement at the core.
• The Lexi Cinema: The Lexi is a small independent community cinema in Kensal Rise, London, run as a social enterprise with strong community focus. Comparable as a small-scale, community-driven single-screen cinema operation reliant on local support and partnerships.
• Riverside Studios: Riverside Studios is a Hammersmith-based arts venue combining cinema screenings, live performance, and community programming in a single building. Comparable hybrid cinema/theatre/community venue model, though operating in a London context at larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• Everyman Cinemas: Everyman is a UK chain of boutique independent cinemas offering premium cinema experiences alongside food and beverage service. Comparable on cinema exhibition and venue hospitality, but operates commercially across multiple urban sites rather than as a single community venue.
• Curzon Cinemas: Curzon is a UK chain of independent/art-house cinemas presenting curated film alongside theatrical screenings and events. Comparable on cinema exhibition and special event programming (theatre broadcasts, opera, etc.), but operates across multiple commercial sites.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/monmouthsavoy
• Facebookfacebook.com/p/Savoy-Theatre-Monmouth-100059981780434
• Instagraminstagram.com/explore/locations/158800746252/savoy-theatre-monmouth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/savoy-theatre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Savoy Theatre