Odeon to shut five cinemas next month - see if your local screen is closing

15 May 2023 , 13:29

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Odeon is closing several UK sites (Image: Getty Images)

Odeon is to close five of its cinemas over the next few weeks in a blow for film lovers.

The cinema chain, which has 116 branches in the UK, said it has been a "difficult decision" following an "assessment of all available options".

The following sites will shut on June 5:

• Oxford Magdalen Street

• Blackpool

  People are only just discovering what Odeon actually means

• Weston-super-mare

• Ayrshire

• Banbury

Odeon said in a statement: “We can confirm that, following a thorough assessment of all available options we have made the very difficult decision to close a small number of our cinemas.

"We know this will be disappointing news for our guests and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.

"We would like to thank them for their choosing Odeon to enjoy the magic of cinema.

"Looking after our people is our number one priority and we are looking to secure jobs for as many team members as possible in one of our 116 other cinemas across the UK and Ireland.”

The news comes after rival Cineworld announced last month that it is dropping its plans to sell its UK, Irish, and US businesses.

The global cinema chain, whose brands include Regal, Cinema City, Picturehouse and Planet and runs around 750 sites globally, filed for bankruptcy in the US last year.

However, the group said it will now try to raise $2.3billion (£1.8billion) in new funding as part of a plan to exit bankruptcy.

Odeon is closing five UK cinemas today - see which sites are shutting

Cineworld announced a debt restructuring plan with its lenders which it hopes will reduce its debt pile by $4.5billion.

To do this, the cinema chain will borrow an additional $1.46billion (£1.2billion) in new credit, and provide $800million (£651 million) of equity to its lenders.

Cineworld says it will aim to have the restructure completed during the first half of this year.

When it filed for Bankruptcy in September, Cineworld had debts of around $8.8billion.

Cinema chains were hard hit after their businesses were forced to close for months at a time during the coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement, Mooky Greidinger, chief executive of Cineworld, said: “This agreement with our lenders represents a ‘vote-of-confidence’ in our business and significantly advances Cineworld towards achieving its long-term strategy in a changing entertainment environment.”

"With a growing slate of blockbusters and audiences returning to cinemas in increasing numbers, Cineworld is poised to continue offering moviegoers the most immersive cinema experiences."

Levi Winchester