by Lucy Buckland

lucy.buckland@essnmedia.co.uk

A moonlit stroll, a romantic dinner and a movie.

It sounds the perfect date – but these are things you wouldn't normally associate with Coulsdon.

But that could all change if Hilary Dunn, head of Coulsdon Business Partnership, gets her way – as she wants the town to become Croydon's dating capital.

The key to it all would be turning the former Red Lion site, in Brighton Road, into a cinema.

Mrs Dunn believes this would not only boost Coulsdon's evening economy but also bring some romance into the area.

Although discount supermarket chain Aldi took the site off the market Croydon Council is understood to be in talks with developers to create a Coulsdon "masterplan" which could open up the prospect of a cinema.

Mrs Dunn, who runs Wood Jewellers, on Chipstead Valley Road, said: "The idea of a cinema is just wonderful and I know it would be backed by people in the town.

"There has been so much talk about car parking (in the town) and people complaining.

"This is a really positive idea for Coulsdon and one which would significantly boost the evening economy.

"It would be lovely to think couples would come to Coulsdon for an evening of romance.

"There are lots of lovely walks and restaurants here too."

Manager of the town's Wimpy fast foot restaurant, Ercan Isikpas, believes his business would definitely profit from a cinema.

He said: "It is a very good idea, we would get more couples in during the evening because now it is very quiet.

"It would also be nice for people of all ages to use the cinema."

Mrs Dunn believes a cinema could boost business for all the town's restaurants. Manager of the Old Mexico restaurant, Ayhan Dervis, said: "We would absolutely welcome a cinema into Coulsdon.

"I would hope this idea would be taken seriously because I would rather a cinema than supermarket."

"A cinema would be a lovely, different idea. At the moment we are doing fine in the evening but people always, on the traditional date, go for a meal either before or after the cinema.

"But we could also attract married couples and older people because everybody likes the cinema."

But some traders think Coulsdon's evening economy is already booming and that what the town needs is a better range of shops.

Owner of clothes shop I Woman Amanda Davis said: "On a Friday night you can see the cars lining the road with it full of people going into the pub.

"The night-time economy is doing really well, it is the day which is a problem."