Sunderland cinema could re-open?



Cheese n Ipa said:
Hope this is true. Diabolical that we don't have our own cinema at the moment and have to go elsewhere.

www.sunderlandecho.com

Sunderland City Council 'hopeful' of cinema return at former Empire site

City council chiefs are hoping to have a new operator in place “early in the new year” to run the former Empire Cinema building in Sunderland and return it to its previous use.
www.sunderlandecho.com www.sunderlandecho.com
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Last time I went in there it was baltic, seriously couldnt wait to get out it was that cold
 
Multiplex's need to diversify a bit IMO. Big old cinemas with loads of screens, but showing the same new Marvel movie fifty times a day.

These places are big enough to accommodate a range of clientele, blockbusters, indie films, classic screenings, themed seasons etc. For example, there's loads of remastered reissued older films that get new cinema releases, and it's great seeing classic films on the big screen that were out before I was old enough to go and experience them. The Empire never had them on. Put a nice little bar/cafe area in it rather than just overpriced nachos and hotdogs for bairns. If it's not viable as a normal bog standard multiplex, then try something a little different and tempt some of the crowd that they are obviously going for with the revamp of Mackie's Corner, Keel Square etc, even for just some of the time.

I'm a huge film fan but I barely went to the one in town as it had nowt on that interested me. You still had to go to Newcastle to see anything slightly off the beaten track.
 
Marty Moose said:
Multiplex's need to diversify a bit IMO. Big old cinemas with loads of screens, but showing the same new Marvel movie fifty times a day.

These places are big enough to accommodate a range of clientele, blockbusters, indie films, classic screenings, themed seasons etc. For example, there's loads of remastered reissued older films that get new cinema releases, and it's great seeing classic films on the big screen that were out before I was old enough to go and experience them. The Empire never had them on. Put a nice little bar/cafe area in it rather than just overpriced nachos and hotdogs for bairns. If it's not viable as a normal bog standard multiplex, then try something a little different and tempt some of the crowd that they are obviously going for with the revamp of Mackie's Corner, Keel Square etc, even for just some of the time.

I'm a huge film fan but I barely went to the one in town as it had nowt on that interested me. You still had to go to Newcastle to see anything slightly off the beaten track.
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I agree about diversifying, also there’s space there to make it a destination in its own right have a bar, restaurant etc and be able to make a whole evening of going to the cinema. I think the Everyman in Newcastle is a little bit like this.
 
The Sunderland cinema was cheapest about. Massive place so as above poster says they could show different films snd attract a bigger audience. Have a luxury screen with drink service etc. think out of the box a bit and low cost parking would do the job. Dalton park is nearly double price.
 
Marty Moose said:
Multiplex's need to diversify a bit IMO. Big old cinemas with loads of screens, but showing the same new Marvel movie fifty times a day.
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And on the other side, they need to stop with small screens. If I make the effort to go to the cinema, I want to watch on a f***ing massive screen or nothing. I can watch on a very good screen in my living room with surround sound. It has to be something that has the wow factor.
 
Marty Moose said:
Multiplex's need to diversify a bit IMO. Big old cinemas with loads of screens, but showing the same new Marvel movie fifty times a day.

These places are big enough to accommodate a range of clientele, blockbusters, indie films, classic screenings, themed seasons etc. For example, there's loads of remastered reissued older films that get new cinema releases, and it's great seeing classic films on the big screen that were out before I was old enough to go and experience them. The Empire never had them on. Put a nice little bar/cafe area in it rather than just overpriced nachos and hotdogs for bairns. If it's not viable as a normal bog standard multiplex, then try something a little different and tempt some of the crowd that they are obviously going for with the revamp of Mackie's Corner, Keel Square etc, even for just some of the time.

I'm a huge film fan but I barely went to the one in town as it had nowt on that interested me. You still had to go to Newcastle to see anything slightly off the beaten track.
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It'd be good if Vue take it over. The Gateshead one has a good balance of new movies, remastered classics and one off events (gigs, theatre/opera shows) and cheap tickets.
 
If its a chain I hope its cineworld. I've had a pass for over a decade. I'd love to spend in Sunderland but not cost effective if not cineworld. I'm aware there were limitations previously about numbers in certain areas but due to current state of industry think and restrictions would be lifted.
 
The Butcher said:
The Sunderland cinema was cheapest about. Massive place so as above poster says they could show different films snd attract a bigger audience. Have a luxury screen with drink service etc. think out of the box a bit and low cost parking would do the job. Dalton park is nearly double price.
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Sure you could get free parking mate next door when you had a cinema ticket ?
 
Can't help feeling they're flogging a dead horse here. Without some really innovative ideas I can't see how another company can succeed where others have failed.
lucky said:
Sure you could get free parking mate next door when you had a cinema ticket ?
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Yes they did, I don't think there's any other obvious thing they can change to make it more attractive to cinema goers.
 
TexasMackem said:
Can't help feeling they're flogging a dead horse here. Without some really innovative ideas I can't see how another company can succeed where others have failed.

Yes they did, I don't think there's any other obvious thing they can change to make it more attractive to cinema goers.
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It is a shame mate as used to go every Saturday with my daughter for years as worked all week so a Saturday was our day but your right if it's not going to get used and cannot think how you would even start to make it more attractive.
 
The Butcher said:
The Sunderland cinema was cheapest about. Massive place so as above poster says they could show different films snd attract a bigger audience. Have a luxury screen with drink service etc. think out of the box a bit and low cost parking would do the job. Dalton park is nearly double price.
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Not when they didn't offer yearly passes or the various ways you could get free tickets from cineworld/vue
 
lucky said:
It is a shame mate as used to go every Saturday with my daughter for years as worked all week so a Saturday was our day but your right if it's not going to get used and cannot think how you would even start to make it more attractive.
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The only thing i can think of is greater appeal to niche markets such as foreign cinema/anime fans. Could combine it with comic con / cosplay sort of events to try to appeal to the city student population. I always found it peculiar that there was always more foreign students in the Grosvenor casino than the cinema.
 
The Butcher said:
The Sunderland cinema was cheapest about. Massive place so as above poster says they could show different films snd attract a bigger audience. Have a luxury screen with drink service etc. think out of the box a bit and low cost parking would do the job. Dalton park is nearly double price.
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People will go to dalton park for double the price because it’s free parking and twist cos it’s £2 for parking in Sunderland
 

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