The future of Newport’s Cineworld is in doubt once again as the company reportedly looks to close around 25% of its UK cinemas. According to Sky News, the national chain is set to carry out a large-scale restructure, which could see around a quarter of its 100 cinemas closed across the country. A further 50 cinemas will enter into negotiations with landlords over rent. It has not yet been revealed which cinemas are at potential risk, but the Isle of Wight’s only Cineworld could face the chop. It was in February last year that Island Echo reported on Cineworld’s troubles, which follows on from news in August 2022. Further details are expected in the coming weeks. A spokesperson for Cineworld has said in a statement:
“We continue to review our options but we don’t comment on rumours and speculation.”
The Isle of Wight has only 2 cinemas; Cineworld in Newport and Leo Leisure in Ryde. In the decades gone by there were dozens, including 6 in The Bay area alone.
But then again it might not …
It would make a brilliant charity shop
The one in Newport is dead!! No one ever goes in there! It’s all a rip off, no arcade games in there or pick a mix now! Big empty space with 1 worker selling popcorn and drinks which you need to remortgage for! Joke of a place! Shut it down put something worth having in there!
I didn’t realise people still went to the cinema anymore.
How can we be left without a decent range of films and live performances? Cineworld covers most tastes, including ballet and opera, Shakespeare (Ian McKellen fantastic in a modern version of Hamlet, not long ago), as well as plenty of new releases of every taste.
Without Cineworld the Island would culturally take many steps backwards. The Commodore in Ryde is lovely and intimate when it’s something you want to watch, I highly recommend it. But it can’t match the range of Cineworld.
….. Perhaps obviously, When I referred to Cineworld’s “live performances” I meant the relays live from London stages and so on. (Not literal live performances within the cinema).
Try reducing the price of tickets and popcorn and then more than likely more people would use it more offten rather than ripping everyone off all the time.. greedy companys as usual…
Exactly, sometimes might have 3 people and 100+ seats empty. Half the price and probably fill 25seats, even better pay for film ticket and get popcorn and drink included.
Last time I went. Screen was rubbish. Almost empty. My TV is so much better. And the food at home is a lot cheaper.
With the pinch being felt by islanders it’s no wonder people cant afford things like this ,and the prices when you get in are something to be reckoned with terribly inflated.
Many other businesses will suffer as time goes on as well.
With Labour taking control, things will get worse for
many families.
working families you mean.
And you know this how?
Surely 14 years of bad government, dodgy deals for their mates, crashing the economy, and still no plane has taken off for Rwanda. Time someone else had a go!
If they cut the prices,more people would go there.
Unfortunately if these places are not used they will inevitably close, it’s a business at the end of the day.
If I was young on the isle of wight I’d move to the mainland. Nothing for them on the island including prospects . Apart from electric scooters of course.
Soon to be another supermarket. Tesco wanted that site years ago.