WELLS Film Centre is launching a special £5 ticket for the summer holidays in the hope that it might help to secure the cinema’s future.
The cinema industry has been seriously affected since the Covid pandemic and although cinemas across the country saw an increase of admissions in 2022, this has not been the case so far for the first six months of 2023. With the national average down by seven per cent, the Wells Film Centre Cinema has seen a drop of 17 per cent so far this year.
For Wells Film Centre, 2022 was still 40 per cent down from pre-Covid levels and with news of a second cinema chain, Empire Cinemas, going into administration, this additional drop is cause for concern. In a bid to stabilise the decline of admissions Sally Cooper, Wells Film Centre proprietor, will be offering a special £5 ticket for the summer holidays. This will see all tickets to all shows, every day from July 28 to August 31 priced at just £5 each.
While aware that the current economic situation has caused a decline in cinema going, Sally said that the ongoing roadworks in Wells in the last nine months has had a major impact on business at the cinema as well.
She said: “The first six months of 2023 have been very disappointing, with many films showing to only one or two customers. However, I hope that by reducing the ticket price this will encourage people to support us going forward.”
She also said how important the sales are in the sweet shop. “With many films, 80 per cent of the box office can go to film rental and VAT, so the sweet shop is more important than ever,” she said.
The summer line-up of films for which people will be able to take advantage of the £5 offer is: Barbie, Oppenheimer (pictured), Knights of the Zodiac, Joy Ride, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, The Meg 2, Grand Turismo, Disney’s Haunted Mansion, DC’s Blue Beetle, Dracula: Voyage of the Demeter, Strays and Theater Camp. Terms and Conditions apply, films are subject to change, and the offer does not include Event Cinema.
Sally said that she would like to thank those who have been supporting the cinema during this difficult time, and she looks forward to seeing them and many more in the coming weeks. For a full line-up and information visit www.wellsfilmcentre.co.uk or pop in to the cinema box office daily from 1pm-9pm or call 01749 673195.