‘Just a matter of time’ grumble locals as cinema group with 40 sites to close location within weeks
A CINEMA group with more than 40 sites will close of one of its locations just two months after opening.
Omniplex Cinemas in Ipswich, Suffolk, has informed its employees in a letter that they are “at risk of redundancy” following the “difficult decision”.
The Irish cinema chain only took over the Buttermarket location from Empire Cinema in December but have already begun a consultation process with staff.
The letter sent to employees this week informed them that Omniplex had not been able to agree the assignment of the leasehold with the landlord.
This means the cinema will close on or before Sunday, March 24, according to the Ipswich Star, although the exact date is yet to be confirmed.
An anonymous employee at the cinema told the outlet that around 30 employees are at risk of losing their jobs, including all team members and managers.
The news comes just weeks after Omiplex took over from previous tenants Empire in December.
Empire first opened in the Buttermarket in 2017 and was the first all-laser projection system in Suffolk and the second in the UK.
But after entering administration last summer, administrators had no choice but to sell up.
Alongside its Ipswich location, Ireland’s largest cinema chain also opened up four other locations across the UK last year.
Omniplex Cinemas can also be found in Birmingham, Sutton, High Wycombe and Clydebank, Scotland.
But it’s impending closure in Suffolk was “just a matter of time” according to disgruntled locals, with a Cineworld already set up elsewhere in town.
“Was SO obvious back in 2017 that this cinema was not going to survive when Cineworld was already in the town,” said one local. “It was always just a matter of time.”
A second added: “Went first time since it changed to Omniplex last week and it was dismal. Hardly anyone in there, sparse empty shelves, I said last week can’t see this staying open much longer.”
Some admitted they will be sad to see the site go, however.
“Such a shame if this goes, great cinema with friendly staff and better programming than Cineworld,” one claimed.
“Another big blow to our dying town and a loss to cinema lovers and people who wish to visit town centre at night for something other than drinking,” commented another.
In November, a much-loved cinema chain branch pulled down its curtains for the final time after 20 years.
Cineworld left loyal customers and staff devastated after shutting the doors on its branch in Runcorn, Cheshire, on November 26.
It swiftly followed the closure of another popular Cineworld branch that had to make way for a new housing estate.
Cineworld in Hengrove Leisure Park, South Bristol, was the last standing cinema in the area and left locals devastated.