Ripon shows its community spirit as whole city gets behind £1.5m project for new three-screen cinema
The owners of a prospective new three-screen cinema in Ripon have thanked film lovers in the city for supporting their £1.5 million plans.
After North Yorkshire planners approved the proposals for the new cinema in Ripon, independent award-winning cinema operator John Tate said he was determined the new venue would have a “wow factor".
“At 10,000 sq ft it will be four times the size of the cinema that we opened in Ilkley in 2015.
"We are going to ensure Ripon has a real wow factor for film lovers who come to watch the latest blockbusters and those who want to see sporting events screenings from the National Theatre and Royal Opera House.
“We would like to thank members of the public who have supported our plans and made us feel welcome in this wonderful historic city."
John Tate, of Central Cinemas, told Tim Flanagan of the Rejoicing in Ripon Blog that Ripon would be “by far” the largest cinema venture he and his business partner John Hewitt had undertaken.
Both members of the Executive Board of the UK Cinema Association, Tate and Hewitt have a strong track record with highly-successful operations in Ilkley and Wetherby.
Their Ilkley venue was named Cinema of the Year at the Big Screen Awards in 2022, while their investment in Wetherby saw the town’s historic film theatre transformed into a two-screen venue.
Central Cinemas Ltd will convert the vacant former Original Factory Shop building, a three-storey, 10,000 sq ft unit located in Fishergate.
The three screens in the new Ripon cinema will have a combined capacity of 157 seats with eight to 10 screenings a day, between 10.30am and 8pm.
Ripon BID manager Lilla Bathurst, said: “Our members across all business sectors in the city have wanted this development to go ahead from the moment that John Tate and John Hewitt unveiled their plans.
“The investment by two seasoned and award-winning cinema operators is a further sign of the confidence that investors like them, and Sterne Properties Limited, have in our magnificent Cathedral City.”
It is hoped the new cinema will open before Christmas.