Cineworld: Difference between revisions
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|[[Bracknell]] || 12 inc. IMAX || Opening Spring 2017, as part of the Bracknell Regeneration. |
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|[[Broughton, Flintshire|Broughton]] || 11 inc. IMAX || As part of the [[Broughton Shopping Park]] expansion plans, Opening 2015. |
|[[Broughton, Flintshire|Broughton]] || 11 inc. IMAX || As part of the [[Broughton Shopping Park]] expansion plans, Opening on 8th May 2015. |
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|[[Dover]] || 6 || As part of the St. James Development, Opening 2016. |
|[[Dover]] || 6 || As part of the St. James Development, Opening 2016. |
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Revision as of 06:57, 26 April 2015
 | |
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| LSE: CINE | |
| Industry | Leisure, Entertainment & Refreshments |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
Key people | Anthony Bloom (Chairman) Moshe (Mooky) Greidinger (Chief Executive) |
| Revenue | £619.4 million (2014)[1] |
| £76.0 million (2014)[1] | |
| £54.5 million (2014)[1] | |
| Website | www |
Cineworld Group plc is a cinema chain operating in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Jersey and continental Europe as Cinema City International.
The UK chain consists of 82 cinemas, 80 of which are located in the UK, with one each in Ireland and Jersey. It is the second-largest cinema operator in the UK with over 800 screens, and the owner of the single largest multiplex by screens and customer base in Ireland.[2] Cineworld Glasgow Renfrew Street is the tallest cinema in the world and the busiest, by customer base, in the UK.[3] The Cineworld with the greatest number of screens is that located at Valley Centertainment in Sheffield, which has 20.[4] It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.
History
The first Cineworld opened in Stevenage, Hertfordshire in July 1996; the second, in a purpose-built location in Wakefield, Yorkshire, followed in late 1996, with Shrewsbury, Shropshire, following in November 1998. Additional sites were opened at a steady rate throughout the late '90s and early 2000s; in 2005, Cineworld also took over the UK and Ireland operations of French cinema company UGC. (As part of the merger, seven locations were sold to Empire Cinemas, due to UK fair trading law: Birmingham Great Park, Bishop's Stortford, Ealing, Slough, Sunderland, Swindon and Wigan.)
The Blackstone Group invested in Cineworld in 2004 when it was privately owned, and remained the largest shareholder in Cineworld Group PLC until it sold its entire remaining 20% shareholding in November 2010.[5]
Post-merger, Cineworld have continued to open new locations; as of 2015, Cineworld have 82 locations in the UK, Ireland and Jersey and have a number of new locations in the pipeline.
In August 2013, The Guardian revealed that Cineworld employs 80% of its 4,300 staff on zero hour contracts.[6]
In October 2013, The Chester location was closed due to the landowner wanting to develop the land into a supermarket. This has been the first Cineworld to close without being sold and was the first cinema to leave the chain in 8 years.
In 2014 Cineworld's Picturehouse chain was subject to industrial action owing to its refusal to pay the London Living Wage to its staff. The workforce attracted the support of Eric Cantona.[7]
On 27 February 2014 Cineworld completed the takeover of Cinema City International N.V..[8] In what can be seen to be a partial reverse takeover, the Greidinger family (who owned a controlling 54% stake in Cinema City International) hold a controlling bloc as the largest shareholders in the newly formed company.[9]
Cinemas
Each Cineworld cinema has between 1 and 20 screens, which typically show mainstream general-release films. Some Cineworlds also show broadcasts of opera, theatre, live music and sports. All Cineworlds also have a retail area, where food and drink such as popcorn, nachos or hotdogs can be purchased, Candyking pick and mix outlets are available at the majority of cinemas. Various cinemas sell Ben and Jerry's ice cream but many were switched to Baskin Robbins in late 2013-early 2014 as part of that brands UK expansion. CafeBars and small amusement arcades can also be found at some cinemas. In October 2012, Cineworld began to replace some of its CafeBars with Starbucks Coffee outlets after agreeing a deal with the coffee chain.
As of September 2013, nine Cineworld cinemas have IMAX screens, and eight have D-BOX technology. As new sites open contracts have been signed for installs of both along with further installs of IMAX screens at older sites. Following a recent refit, the Milton Keynes cinema has acquired both a "Superscreen" and a 4DX screen, the first in the UK. Cineworld intends to roll out further "Superscreen" and 4DX screens to other sites in the future.
The majority of Cineworld cinemas offer a kids club named "Movies for Juniors", which screen selected children's films on Saturday & Sunday mornings at a discounted rate, and daily during school holidays.
In June 2011, Cineworld began a trial of a premium cinema brand, The Screening Rooms. Located next to the Cheltenham cinema, The Screening Rooms offers considerably larger, leather seating, premium food, and 'table' service.[10]
Cineworld was the only cinema chain in the United Kingdom to operate a 'strict no food and drink policy'[11] on items that have been bought elsewhere,[12] but in November 2012 the food policy was changed and now states that "neither alcohol nor hot food may be brought onto the premises".[13]
In early 2014 Cineworld introduced an allocated seating system, starting as a trial in selected sites including Wembley and rolling out to all their cinemas by the summer.[14] The move was controversial and a Twitter campaign was created against this policy.[15] Cineworld have responded to the criticism stating that it gives customers peace of mind along with other benefits.[16]
Membership schemes
Cineworld offers a subscription service using a membership card - the "Unlimited Card" - which provides subscribers with unlimited entrance for a set price per month, and currently 10% off all food and drink.[17] It is the only type of cinema subscription service available in the UK, Ireland and Jersey. Admission to 3D features incurs an additional fee, and does not include the cost of 3D glasses. The standard Unlimited card does not grant access to Cineworld's three West End cinemas (Chelsea, Haymarket and Fulham Road); these require the purchase of a more expensive West End Unlimited card. Using the Unlimited branding, Cineworld also published a free monthly magazine entitled Unlimited, presenting information about upcoming movies the chain will be exhibiting. As of Summer 2012 however, the Unlimited name was removed from the magazine and the subsequently the magazine was simply renamed as Cineworld Magazine.
As of 26 November 2012, Unlimited members of 12 months continuous membership will be upgraded to the Unlimited Premium Card which grants 25% off all food and drink bought in cinema, 10% off Starbucks (on site only) and no uplift fees on 3D films.
In addition to the paid Unlimited scheme, Cineworld offer a free membership scheme called "myCineworld", which allows members a 10% discount on tickets when booking online and with allocated seating offers the member 'the best seats in the auditorium' when booking in advance.
Gallery
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Cineworld in Middlesbrough, England. -
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Cineworld on Fulham Road in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
Current locations
Planned locations
| Site | Screens | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham — National Exhibition Centre | 11 inc. IMAX | Opening Spring 2015, as part of the Resorts World Birmingham complex at the NEC. |
| Bracknell | 12 inc. IMAX | Opening Spring 2017, as part of the Bracknell Regeneration. |
| Broughton | 11 inc. IMAX | As part of the Broughton Shopping Park expansion plans, Opening on 8th May 2015. |
| Dover | 6 | As part of the St. James Development, Opening 2016. |
| Ely, Cambridgeshire | 6 | As part of Ely Leisure Village, Opening 2016. |
| Glasgow — Silverburn Centre | 14 | Opening 2015. |
| Harlow - Harvey Centre | 6 | As part of Harvey Centre plans, Opening 2015. |
| Hinckley | 5 | As part of Crescent Bus Station plans, Opening 2015.[18] |
| Keighley | 8 | Opening 2016. |
| Macclesfield | 9 | Opening 2016. |
| Murton, County Durham | 7 | As part of Dalton Park, Opening 2015. |
| Newport - Friars Walk | 8 | Opening 2015. |
| Oswestry | 5 | Opening 2015. |
| Hanley, Staffordshire | 9 | Opening 2015 [19] |
| Ruislip | 10 | Opening 2015. |
| Trowbridge | 8 | Opening 2015. |
| Watford | 11 inc. IMAX | Opening May 2017. |
| Leeds - White Rose Centre | 11 inc. IMAX | Opening date unknown |
Former locations
| Site | Screens | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham — Great Park | 13 | UGC | Sold to Empire Cinemas in 2005. |
| Bishop's Stortford | 6 | Cineworld | Sold to Empire Cinemas in 2005. |
| Cambridge | 9 | Cineworld | Sold To Light Cinemas 2015. |
| Chester | 6 | UGC | Closed 10 October 2013. |
| Ealing | 3 | UGC | Sold to and now closed by Empire Cinemas since early 2009 for "redevelopment" |
| Gloucester — Peel Centre | 6 | UGC | Closed 5 December 2013. Replaced by new cinema at Gloucester Quays development. |
| London — Shaftesbury Avenue | 7 | UGC | Closed 21 September 2014. Due to re-open under Cineworld's Picturehouse Cinemas brand late spring 2015. [20] |
| Sunderland | 12 | Cineworld | Sold to Empire Cinemas in 2005 |
| Slough | 10 | UGC | Sold to Empire Cinemas in 2005. |
| Swindon — Greenbridge | 12 | Cineworld | Swindon was the only place to have a UGC & Cine-UK therefore had two Cineworld Cinemas for a brief time. Sold to Empire Cinemas in 2005. |
| Wigan | 11 | UGC | Sold to Empire Cinemas in 2005. |
See also
- Cineworld (Glasgow) – tallest cinema in the world
- Cineworld Dublin – largest cinema in Ireland
References
- ^ a b c "Preliminary Results for year ended 31 December 2014". Cineworld. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
- ^ Cineworld PLC | The Market
- ^ "Cineworld Group plc – Company overview". cineworldplc.com. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
- ^ "Cineworld Group plc – About us". cineworldplc.com. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
- ^ "Blackstone Completes Sale of Remaining Stake in Cineworld" (PDF). Press release. The Blackstone Group. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
- ^ Simon Neville. "Curzon and Everyman cinema staff on zero-hours contracts | Film". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
- ^ Spanier, Gideon. "Backers pile pay pressure on Cineworld over Brixton Ritzy row". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
- ^ "UK group to merge with Cinema City International". Polskie Radio. Polskie Radio. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
Under the terms of the deal, Cineworld will purchase about 100 multiplexes from CCI for 503 million pounds. However, CCI will maintain a 24.9 percent stake in the combined business.
- ^ "Israel's Mooky Greidinger Agrees To Sell Cinema City Chain Of Movie Theatres To UK Based Cineworld For $923 Million In Cash And Stock". Jewish Business News. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
- ^ "Sneak peek at Cheltenham cinema's luxury Screening Rooms". This is Gloucestershire. 17 June 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
- ^ "Cineworld Cinemas - FAQ". Retrieved 9 July 2011.
Can I bring in my own food and drink? - Cineworld have a strict NO FOOD AND DRINK policy.
- ^ Sethi, Anita (20 February 2008). "My mission to beat the great cinema food rip-off ..." The Guardian. London. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- ^ "Cineworld Cinemas - FAQ". Retrieved 1 December 2012.
2.2 Alcohol and Food Policy: Neither alcohol nor hot food may be brought onto the premises. Only hot food bought on the premises may be consumed on the premises. Alcohol may only be purchased and consumed in Cineworld licensed bar areas or in licensed screens and licensing laws will be strictly enforced.
- ^ "Allocated seating is now available at your local Cineworld". Cineworld. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
- ^ "Allocated Seats Cine". twitter.com. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
- ^ "Allocated seating coming soon to Cineworld". Cineworld. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
- ^ "Cineworld Cinemas: Unlimited Card Discounts".
- ^ "Work on Hinckley's £80m revamp to start next year". BBC News. 10 October 2013.
- ^ "Cineworld Set for Hanley as part of INTU Potteries expansion plans". The Sentinel. 20 November 2013.
- ^ "Cineworld London - Shaftesbury Avenue West-End to become Picturehouse Central". Cineworld. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
External links
