Council must seek new cinema chain for Sunderland as Empire goes into administration

Commenting on the closure of Sunderland’s cinema with immediate effect as the Empire Cinema chain enters administration, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Sunderland City Council Paul Edgeworth said:

“This is devastating news for those who worked for Empire Cinema and really bad news for Sunderland and our city centre economy.

"If the administrators can’t find a buyer to take over the existing cinema site on Lambton Street then given the Council now owns the building city bosses need to do everything they can to work with other operators to bring a new cinema chain to Sunderland.

“For years it was a huge embarrassment that Sunderland didn’t have a cinema following the closure of the ABC on Park Lane in 1999. We can’t go back to the bad old days of not having any cinema at all.

“If the current site isn’t feasible for a new operator to take over, then Council chiefs should prioritise bringing one of the other big cinema chains here in one form or another. We have a lot of development going on in the city centre and a cinema must be a key part of a vibrant offer in Sunderland. This must be a priority so people don’t have to travel to Durham, Boldon, Gateshead or the MetroCentre to see something on the big screen."