Penrith Cinema issues an urgent plea

Penrith Cinema issues an urgent plea “But we don’t want to go” as the Cinema faces an uncertain future.

Owners of Penrith’s Alhambra Cinema have issued an urgent plea for the community to support the Penrith business as the Cinema faces an uncertain future a decade after its was last at risk of closing its doors for good.

Rising costs and falling audience numbers are once again putting the town centre cinema at risk of shutting its doors for the last time.

In a statement the Cinema said “Times are hard but the cinema has been quiet for quite a while, the cost of running  is much higher than we can currently afford, and it has sadly reached the point where we can see the end of the road, closer than we ever hoped we would see.”

Matt Bainbridge manager at the Alhambra told Radio Cumbria that the cinema could close as early as June this year.

In 2020 Staff at Penrith’s Lonsdale Alhambra issued a desperate plea for people to put “bums on seats” and save the cinema for a second time.

Just over a decade ago, the Cinema was facing closure and this resulted in a massive community effort helped to rescue the last remaining Cinema in Penrith. The campaign in 2010 had the support of then Penrith and The Border MP Rory Stewart.

The Cinema owners have said “rather than waiting 'til a time when we would have to share the worst news... We're making some changes to try as hard as possible to remain here, in the heart of Penrith, screening a huge variety of films for all of you!”

In a effort to boost attendance from this from Friday, the Cinema will be trialing £5 tickets for everyone for all films! except Event Cinema. Also, every weekend they will be screening family favourite films for just £2.50 in an effort to introduce a new generation to the cinema experience.