Leading United Kingdom cinema chain, Cineworld, has confirmed the closure of six more cinemas as part of its restructuring plan, bringing the total number of closures across the UK in 2024 to 11.
The affected locations are Castleford, Leigh, Middlesbrough, Northampton, Poole, and Weymouth. While Weymouth’s last day of operation is set for December 30, 2024, the remaining five sites will cease trading on January 19, 2025.
The closures come during a period of strong performance for UK cinemas, fuelled by the box office success of blockbusters such as Wicked (£37.7 million to date), Moana 2 (£21.5 million to date), and Gladiator 2 (£26.6 million to date).
Cineworld’s restructuring plan, now successfully completed, aimed to ensure the company’s long-term profitability by addressing unsustainable operating costs. Measures included rent reductions at several sites, safeguarding thousands of jobs across the UK. Despite these efforts, the six closures occurred after landlords opted to reclaim their properties.
The president of Cineworld International, Javier Sotomayor said, “The successful completion of our restructuring plan, achieved with the crucial support of our landlords, protects thousands of jobs across the UK and provides us with the financial stability to continue investing in delivering extraordinary experiences for our valued customers.”
He added, “This milestone sets the stage for a brighter future, enabling Cineworld to continue sharing joy in communities across the UK for many years to come.”
As part of its renewed focus, Cineworld has secured additional funding and plans to invest £35 million in refurbishing and enhancing its existing cinemas.
Following the latest closures, Cineworld now operates 89 cinemas across the UK, alongside 25 Picturehouse locations. These closures follow two cinemas which closed in 2023 after Cineworld filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States in September 2022.
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