Don’t Panic! Flemingate Celebrates Star-Studded Dad’s Army Remake

Beverley’s new Flemingate development is throwing itself into the wartime spirit with the release of the Dad’s Army film.

A selection of World War II vehicles will be on display at the shopping centre between 10am and 4pm on Saturday, February 6, including a fully-equipped British Willis Jeep and a German BMW motorbike and sidecar with weapon mount.

On the same day, several Home Guard soldiers armed with Lee Enfield rifles will patrol Flemingate’s mall which will be decorated with patriotic bunting. Flemingate’s “Dad’s Army” will be supported by a British 6^th Airborne Paratrooper complete with Sten gun, ensuring shoppers are safe from enemy infiltration.

Flemingate Centre Manager, Graham Tait, said: “It’s a great boost for Beverley that the town was chosen as a location for the Dad’s Army remake, so we really wanted to mark the occasion by giving Flemingate a wartime theme to coincide with the release of the film at the brand new Parkway Cinema.

“We have military vehicles and Home Guard soldiers patrolling the mall between 10am and 4pm on Saturday and some of our retailers are getting involved on the day so it should be a fun day and great atmosphere for the family.”

Flemingate is also providing free parking at weekends throughout February, to support a month-long series of promotions, including activity around the Dad’s Army film, Valentine’s Day and the Oscars.

Cliff Baillie, General Manager at Parkway Cinema, said: “Everyone at Parkway Cinema is very excited to be screening Dad’s Army as some important scenes were filmed in Beverley and local residents feel a real connection with the film.

“It’s great that Flemingate is getting into the spirit to celebrate Beverley’s involvement and it will create a real buzz around the shopping centre.”

Hungry shoppers can sample a wartime-themed sandwich at Deli No.1, which has given a ration book staple a contemporary twist! Deli No.1 owner Tony Moxon has taken great care to use locally-sourced meat for his corned beef, Swiss cheese, coleslaw and Russian dressing sandwich on rye bread.

Tony said: “We are proud to be involved with the Dad’s Army launch, especially as some of it was filmed here in Beverley.

“The Deli will be decorated and we’ll be handing out ration book flyers to promote the film and our special wartime sandwich, with our usual Deli No.1 twist.”

Jeweller Guest & Philips was also keen to join in with activities and will be among retailers who are decorating stores with a Dad’s Army theme.

The film has been eagerly awaited by Beverley residents following filming in the town in 2014. Beverley’s East Riding Theatre, a former chapel, appears in the film’s official trailer and features in several scenes as Captain Mainwaring’s office and the Home Guard platoon’s drill hall.

The remake of the popular sitcom was filmed almost entirely in Yorkshire with locations including Beverley, Bridlington, Flamborough and Pickering to recreate the fictional Walmington-on-Sea, home of the Second World War Home Guard platoon.

The 2016 adaptation of Dad’s Army, directed by BAFTA award-winning director Oliver Parker, features a star-studded cast with Toby Jones as Captain Mainwaring; Bill Nighy as Sergeant Wilson; Hull’s-own Sir Tom Courtenay as Corporal Jones; Sir Michael Gambon as Godfrey; Danny Mays as Walker; Blake Harrison as Pike; Bill Paterson as Fraser, and Catherine Zeta Jones as Rose, a visiting journalist.

Screenings of Dad’s Army will be at 6.30pm and 9pm from Friday, February 5 at Parkway Cinema. For more information visit the website at www.parkwaycinemas.co.uk.

In addition, there is a private gala screening of the film on Monday, February 8, in aid of Age UK, which includes champagne and canapés. For details of this charity event email julie.woolley@ageukeastriding.org.uk

Developed by Hull-based Wykeland Group, the £120m Flemingate scheme is Beverley’s biggest ever regeneration project, encompassing retail, cinema, housing, a hotel, restaurants, offices and a new, 65,000 sq ft campus for East Riding College.