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: