Resident’s concerns about run-down Ripon buildings strike a chordRefurbished Ripon nightclub for saleNo 11: Curzon closure does not signal the end of cinema in Ripon

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.

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Man hospitalised after assault outside Ripon bar

A man was taken to hospital with facial injuries after being attacked outside a Ripon bar.

North Yorkshire Police said today the man was attacked at about 3.40am on Sunday morning (December 10) outside Wonderland on North Street.

Wonderland is a late night bar that stays open until 4am at weekends.

A police statement said:

“A male suspect was arrested and has been released on conditional bail.

“We would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the assault and has any information that can help with the investigation.”

You can email amy.sharrad@northyorkshire.police.uk, or call 101, select option 2 and ask for DC 618 Amy Sharrad.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Quote reference number 12230233886.

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Petition launched to reopen Ripon cinema

A petition has been launched calling for Ripon’s only cinema to be reopened.

The Curzon closed on July 1 after the company said the venue had “specific challenges” and was “not suited to the long-term direction we have taken”.

Sterne Properties, which owns the site on North Street, has suggested the venue could be run as a community project with one cinema screen remaining.

However, a petition has been launched calling for the cinema to be reopened.

Adam Cordiner, who launched the campaign called Save Ripon Cinema, said he was “deeply disappointed” by Curzon’s decision to cease operating the venue.

He added he hoped the petition would help to highlight the community’s love for the site and that an operator would step in to reopen it as a cinema.

Mr Cordiner said:

“The Ripon cinema is treasured by its local community.

“Adored not only by film lovers, but by writers and artists who regularly came to open-mic nights at the cinema to share ideas, discuss topical artistic ideas and to encourage the next generation of thinkers and creators in this important and historic area.”

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At the time of publication, the petition had attracted 48 signatures.

Mr Cordiner added that although there were proposals from Sterne Properties to turn the venue into a community project, he felt there was “no guarantee of this happening”.

He said:

“We love the cinema and want it to be saved. Perhaps another operator may step in if we get some publicity.”

For more information on the petition, visit the iPetition page here.

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.

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Curzon to close Ripon cinema

The Curzon cinema in Ripon is to close on July 1.

The company said the Ripon venue faced “specific challenges” and the site “is not suited to the long-term direction we have taken”.

The venue’s nine staff were informed of the decision yesterday.

Curzon confirmed the news to the Stray Ferret this afternoon after a source informed us of the closure.

Jake Garriock, head of distribution strategy and group publicity at Curzon, said:

“Unfortunately, your information is correct, the cinema is due to close on July 1.

“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.”

Mr Garriock added:

“The site is not suited to the long-term direction we have taken post-pandemic, driven by increased customer focus on hospitality, for example, the rooftop and pizza kitchen offering at Curzon Kingston.

“I am aware the news is a disappointment to both the staff and the local community, who share a love for the cinema.”

The Curzon is on North Street in Ripon

Curzon, which has 17 cinemas, was founded in 1934 and is known for showing art house films. It runs membership schemes that encourage people to watch films throughout the year.

The source that contacted the Stray Ferret urged people in Ripon that any queries resulting from the closure must be dealt with online and that nothing could be sorted in the cinema on North Street.

They appealed to people not to abuse staff.

Mr Garriock said “there will be no issue with customers requesting refunds for memberships they might have taken out” and urged people to call the customer helpline on 01233 555644.

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Ripon busks in bright Bank Holiday sunshine

Musicians busked in the bright Bank Holiday sunshine in Ripon as performers in many different musical genres attracted extra footfall to the city’s streets.

The Ripon Indie event, organised by independent traders and featuring a host of highly-talented local and regional artists, was supported by Ripon Business Improvement District.

Crowds on Kirkgate Ripon

There was a large gathering on Kirkgate, where performers included the rock band Time Machine (main picture) and singer-songwriter Alannah Creed, pictured below.

Alannah Creed on Kirkgate

The day also featured a Little Bird Artisan Market in the city centre which, alongside the musical entertainment and a team of Bollywood-style dancers, brought hundreds of people in to Ripon.

Little Bird Artisan Market in Ripon

Buskers were strategically placed in Market Square, Westgate, North Street and The Arcade and their music acted as a magnet to those wishing to follow the busking trail.

Popular Ripon performers Lily Worth (above) and Freddie Cleary (below) were among the entertainers who showed the depth of young musical talent that the city boasts.

Freddie Cleary

Yesterday’s event proved a natural follow-on from the successful street party held on Kirkgate on Easter Monday, which ran under the umbrella of the independents’ Totally Locally Campaign backed by Ripon BID.

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Ripon resident says blocked gullies are leading to floods

A Ripon resident has called on North Yorkshire County Council to clean gullies in the city more regularly, after a burst water main led to a street being flooded this week.

People on North Street woke on Monday to water gushing out of a pipe onto the road. It was the second time in four days that a Yorkshire Water pipe had burst on the street and led to fears the flood might damage properties.

Some homes in the city and nearby villages were left without water for most of the day while the leak was fixed.

The street has gullies to take excess surface water but residents say they are regularly blocked by straw, hay and dirt.

Paul Oldham, who lives on North Street, said Monday’s flood was not an isolated incident.

He said whenever there is heavy rainfall in winter, residents have to go out to the drains to move dirt in the gullies so that water can go down.

Mr Oldham said:

“The fact is every year the residents on North Street clean out the drains because they are not maintained. We’re out in our wellies and we poke or prod to get water to subside, and eventually it does. The council needs to be cleaning out the drains.”

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It is the responsibility of North Yorkshire County Council to clean drains and gulleys in the district.

Mr Oldham added:

“I get that budgets might be cut, or cleaning drains might not be a priority, but the fact is it’s happened so often and regularly. It could have really affected properties along here.

“Its not a one off. They need to make sure the drains are cleaned. But I do have sympathy, it is difficult for them to get around and do all the jobs.”

North Yorkshire County Council highways area manager Melisa Burnham said:

“The gullies in North Street were inspected recently and the team involved found they were in good condition but did need to be jetted.

“Following the inspection a programme had already been devised to have them cleared and cleaned and that work will be delivered today.”

Ripon water supplies restored but traffic problems remain

The burst main on North Street in Ripon has been repaired after parts of the city endured many hours without water for the second time in four days yesterday.

However, the section of road between the clock tower junction and the BP petrol station remains closed and barriered off.

Residents await updates on social media from Yorkshire Water on the progress made and number of properties affected.

The company said this morning that water supplies had been restored to homes in the Ripon area.

John Graham, of Joda Freight, which has been employed by Yorkshire Water to deliver bottled water to areas affected by the mains burst and loss of supply, is on standby to deliver more pallets this morning. 

John Graham of Joda Freight, whose company has been employed by Yorkshire Water to deliver bottled water.

John Graham of Joda Freight, whose company has been employed by Yorkshire Water to deliver bottled water.

He slept in his vehicle overnight and told the Stray Ferret this morning: 

“We delivered approximately 24 tonnes of water to Market Square and other parts of the city yesterday and are ready to top up supplies as required today.” 

One of the drop off points for the pallets of water was on North Street.

About 4,000 homes in Ripon were without water for most of Friday after a mains burst on North Street. A mains on the same street also burst yesterday.

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