Eastbourne cinema will close for the foreseeable future

Cineworld in The Beacon is one of 127 cinemas across the UK which will close from Thursday (October 8) due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The cinema chain has struggled since lockdown – with the second delay of the new James Bond film being a massive blow.

Cineworld will close all of its cinemas in the UK and US, including Picturehouse, it was confirmed today (October 5).

Chief executive Mooky Greidinger said it was not a decision that had been taken lightly.

He said, “We did everything in our power to support safe and sustainable reopenings in all of our markets.”

Around 5,500 jobs are said to be at risk.

The company has not confirmed when it plans to reopen its cinemas, though it is thought this won’t be until at least 2021.

The announcement will affect a number a cinemas across Sussex, including Brighton’s Picturehouse, Duke of York, and Komedia, as well as Cineworlds in Crawley and Chichester.

The cinema only opened in Eastbourne’s shopping centre extension in July last year.

It replaced the Cineworld at The Crumbles retail park in Sovereign Harbour.

And, early this year, Eastbourne’s other cinema, The Curzon, closed its doors in Langney Road after a century.

Bosses said the arrival of Cineworld had ‘killed’ business.