SCOTT Cinemas have turned down calls to open a new cinema in Chard.

Cllr Conner Payne urged Scott Cinemas to open a new branch in order to improve the entertainment offerings in the town.

However, the company declined due to a wide range of reasons. In a letter written to the councillor, a spokesperson from Scott Cinemas said: "Regrettably, we at WTW-Scott Cinemas are not currently able to look at new projects, having recently opened a purpose-built new cinema in Bridgwater which came at a considerably increased cost than had been budgeted for, and at a time when cinema attendances are not recovering as hoped for from the Covid-19 pandemic (currently we are operating at 70% of admissions compared to 2019).

Chard & Ilminster News: Scott Cinemas, Northgate Yard.Scott Cinemas, Northgate Yard. (Image: NQ staff)

"Added to this are the significantly higher operating costs which all businesses are currently facing (four utility bills are currently 60% higher than they were two years ago) and coupled with less disposable incomes for households as a result of the cost-of-living crises.

"I hope you can understand the difficult position in which the cinema and wider leisure industry currently faces.

"There are very few new build cinema projects taking place around the UK at the current time as a consequence of the combination of all these factors.

"We all very much hope that cinema admissions return close to the 2019 figures in the near future and should that be the case then we would be able to look at new projects with greater confidence." 

Cllr Conner Payne responded: "Scott Cinemas has sent me a letter rejecting my plea for assistance in our community, outlining very helpfully the reasons why.

"The biggest reason being due to their recent investment in Bridgwater. They’ve also noted the damage COVID has done to the cinema industry.

"I look forward to hearing from other Cinema chains around the area, but am pleased to have had such a nice response from Scott Cinemas."

Where can I find a Scott Cinemas?

 

Here are just a few places you can find a Scott Cinemas:

  • Barnstaple (Central Cinema).
  • Bristol (The Orpheus Cinema).
  • Bridgwater.
  • East Grinstead.
  • Exmouth (Savoy Cinema).
  • Newton Abbot (Alexandra Cinema).
  • Sidmouth (Radway Cinema).

Please visit the Scott Cinemas website for more information regarding locations, prices, and what's on.