Land Rover showroom Twisted to take over Edwardian cinema in Thirsk as motoring-themed hospitality space

Twisted, which specialises in producing bespoke personalised Land Rover Defenders, has lodged a planning application with Hambleton Council to extend its 8,500sq.ft Thirsk car showroom at the historic Gaiety Cinema premises in Long Street.

The firm has already replicated the original screen from the 1914 cinema for motoring-themed events and says it aims to create a “high level” hospitality suite and bedrooms for the exclusive use of its clients.

The move comes two years after the firm, which has cars priced at up to £225,000 before VAT on its website, expanded into a former tyre shop on Long Street to launch a dedicated showroom.

Twisted, which was established in 2000 and has workshops across the town and in Ripon, has already invested £400,000 refurbishing the premises, which has been home to motoring-related businesses since the cinema burned down in 1930.

The application documents state the showroom has “proved extremely successful” and as a result, the firm is seeking consent to increase the hospitality offer at the site, by creating a hospitality suite, and ancillary living accommodation on the first floor.

It states the business attracts a broad customer base across the country who often travel long distances to see the selection of Land Rover Defenders in the showroom and for sales events.

The application states the firm is aiming to expand the number of sale events it holds, adding: “Within the suite, the customers would be able to sit, relax and be served refreshments in between looking at the vehicles on offer.

“In addition to this, they would like to be able to offer overnight accommodation as part of the hospitality package. The accommodation would be wholly ancillary to the main premises, and only be used by those associated with the business, whether that be staff or customers.

“Often customers will make a weekend trip and will not only look at the vehicles at this premises but visit their other facilities and take part in the ‘experiences’ on offer, including the Off Roading Adventure and day vehicle hire for example.”

Despite the premises being in a largely residential area, since the plan was lodged in March it has only generated one comment from a neighbour saying while the firm had made “dramatic improvements to the old garage” since locating there, it had also created parking issues when it hosts events such as its monthly Latte and Land Rovers.