Empire Cinemas Crashes Into Administration, Closing Six Sites
Empire Cinemas has gone into administration, slashing 150 jobs and shutting six cinemas across the UK. The chain blames Covid-19 fallout and the cost of living crisis for the financial wipeout. Another eight cinemas now hang by a thread, with staff blindsided by closure notices on arrival at work.
Six Cinemas Shut—Local Communities Left Movie-Less
- The closed sites include Bishop’s Stortford, Catterick Garrison, Sunderland, Swindon, Walthamstow, and Wigan.
- Sunderland and Wigan lose their major local cinema, sparking uproar among residents.
- Remaining cinemas in Birmingham, Clydebank, High Wycombe, Ipswich, Sutton, plus Tivoli venues in Bath and Cheltenham, will keep running while buyers are sought.
Administrators BDO promise gift cards, tickets, and passes remain valid at open sites. Advance ticket buyers at closed venues will get automatic refunds.
Price Pain and Pandemic Wreck Empire Cinemas’ Future
Movie fans vented on social media, blaming sky-high prices and tough living costs. Empire Cinemas was born in 2005 after forced divestments in big cinema mergers involving Odeon, UCI, Cineworld, and UGC.
Argos Sets Sights on More Store Closures—100 Branches to Close in 2024
Retail giant Argos is also slashing its footprint. It’s closing 100 stores this year alone. So far, 37 have shut in 2023, with more closures heading to Grimsby and Scunthorpe next month.
Instead, Argos plans to focus on in-store branches within supermarkets. Already 25 of these are open, with 30 more due by next March. Overall, the chain will cut about 70 standalone shops, shrinking its high street presence dramatically.
