In this article, which is part of a series on the 12 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2023, we look at the closure in July of Ripon’s Curzon cinema
Film lovers in Ripon and the surrounding area suffered a blow on July 1 when Curzon, the London-headquartered cinema operator, closed the doors forever at its North Street premise.
That came just ten years after it opened in a blaze of positive publicity.
Has the city seen its final picture show? Or will the projectors be rolling again in 2024?
At the time of Curzon’s withdrawal, landlord Sterne Properties Limited, stated its own disappointment, but also announced plans to bring a community-run cinema to Ripon to operate alongside a leisure hub designed for families with young children.
The James Bond film No Time to Die, was one of the last blockbuster movies to be shown at Curzon’s Ripon cinema
With the New Year just (weeks/days away) the Stray Ferret asked Robert Sterne, director of the Ripon-based property and investment company, for an update.
He told us:
“The closure of Curzon in July this year was a huge disappointment all round, but we see this as an opportunity to make (subject to planning consent) some big changes so that the cinema better serves the community.”
He pointed out:
“There has been lots of interest from a whole range of cinema operators which we are considering alongside a community-run, not for profit venture. However Curzon still hold a lease over the property and it will therefore have to remain closed until terms can be agreed to bring it back under our control. “
Mr Sterne, added:
“We are working hard to this end and hope to be able to give some further updates in the New Year”
A family-focused new facility
In July, Mr Sterne told the Stray Ferret:
“Film lovers can take comfort that one cinema screen will be retained to be run as a community project. That way overheads, and therefore ticket prices, can be reduced whilst continuing to show a range of great films and streaming of live events.
“In addition we are proposing to create a hub for the benefit of local and visiting families with a play centre, baby sensory activities, café/restaurant and retail unit. This is something that has been under-provided locally and for which we see a strong demand.”
Leisure sector experience
In 2013, the company’s conversion of a former furniture store provided the wherewithal for Curzon to come to Ripon and bring cinema back to the city, 31 years after the final curtain at the Palladium on Kirkgate .
Sterne Properties, set up by Robert Sterne’s father Martin, has been investing in Ripon for more than 30 years.
It has a strong track record in the refurbishment and reconfiguration of redundant buildings in the city, to create mixed-use leisure and hospitality-led schemes that include a residential element.
One high profile example is the former Natwest Bank premises next door to Ripon Town Hall on Market Place South.
It is now the Claro Lounge cafe/bar at ground and basement level, with luxury apartments on the upper floors.
The company whose city centre portfolio includes properties which are home to Halls of Ripon, Caffe Nero, the Little Ripon Bookshop and Appleton’s Butchers, submitted a planning application to North Yorkshire Council in September for, perhaps, its most ambitious project yet – the refurbishment of the Spa Baths.
That application will be determined by the planning authority in the New Year and, if successful, will see a mixed-use hospitality-led scheme, designed to see the grade II listed Spa building returned to its Edwardian splendour,
Main image: The billboards are currently bare at Curzon’s premises, but cinema could be back in the New Year.
Read more:
Ripon Curzon set to be turned into community cinema
The closure of the Curzon cinema in Ripon will not signal the end of big screen entertainment for city film lovers.
The Stray Ferret revealed last week the city’s only cinema will close on July 1 having failed to recover from covid.
But Sterne Properties Ltd, which owns the North Street premises that have been home to Curzon since 2013, has big plans for the building.
They include retaining one of the cinema screens to be run as a volunteer-led community project, following similar ventures across the UK.
In addition, the Ripon-based property development and investment company also wants to create new family-friendly facilities on site, subject to obtaining the necessary consents.
Director Robert Sterne told the Stray Ferret:
“It was disappointing to learn that Curzon have taken the decision to close their Ripon branch after operating the city’s cinema for the last decade.
“It has unquestionably been a valued asset to the community and it is sad to hear from many regular cinema goers to whom it’s a great loss.
“We have worked closely with Curzon to ensure the cinema’s success and when the pandemic struck we reduced the rent by half during and post-covid, which was conditional on them being open and serving the community.
“However in spite of our support and due to increasing economic pressures it has now become unviable for Curzon to remain open.
“We are now endeavouring to agree terms in order to take back possession of the premises – they are 10 years into a 25-year lease. Only then can we move forward with exciting new plans for our building.”
Looking to the future, Mr Sterne added:
“Film lovers can take comfort that one cinema screen will be retained to be run as a community project. That way overheads, and therefore ticket prices, can be reduced whilst continuing to show a range of great films and streaming of live events.
“In addition we are proposing to create a hub for the benefit of local and visiting families with a play centre, baby sensory activities, café/restaurant and retail unit. This is something that has been under-provided locally and for which we see a strong demand.”
Jake Garriock, head of distribution strategy and group publicity at Curzon, explained the reason behind the company’s plans to close its Ripon cinema last week.
He said:
“The cinema has specific challenges that have meant it has not recovered as we hoped after the pandemic.
“In recent years, with several new purpose-built cinemas opening in the area, the local audience has been spread too thinly for Ripon to thrive.”
Sterne Properties, which is also planning a community regeneration of Ripon Spa Baths, hopes to have the Curzon building back open to the public next year.
Read more:
- Curzon confirms closure of Ripon cinema
- Councillors call for ‘comprehensive resurfacing’ of Ripon city centre roads