The closure of Sheffield’s Curzon Cinema is a sign of changing times. The venue was open for more than a decade and was one of the best-known indie cinemas in the area.
The Cinema was a Strong Part of Sheffield’s Local Scene
Located inside the Sheffield Banking Company building, the cinema opened in 2015. It had a stylish interior, a licensed bar, and preserved vaults from the original bank.
Even though it had a very unique setting, the cinema never attracted the admissions it hoped for, and struggled with competition from neighboring venues and lowered city-centre footfall.
Streaming has a lot to do with these trends as well. Streaming services mean that films are available at home in a matter of weeks, and people have endless digital content at their disposal.
To encourage people to leave the house, businesses have to offer something unique. Premium IMAX and Dolby Cinema screens offer blockbuster experiences, and many venues are investing in luxury recliner seating and premium food menus.
Some independent cinemas have gone as far as to create private screens. Burnley’s Vault offers private hire with an intimate setting. It’s also possible to book a room for just two people. Older content and movies are shown, which leans into exclusivity and new experiences rather than just relying on the latest releases alone.
The cinema industry isn’t the only sector adapting either. Bowling alleys now offer escape rooms, immersive attractions, advanced equipment and photobooths, to try and create more diverse experiences.
Bingo halls are opening their doors to live music and corporate events when sessions are not in place. Some are also offering themed bingo, taking inspiration from bingo sites online. Just like the online world has plenty of variants like Candy Room, Speedy Bingo or Liberty Bingo, physical venues are choosing to embrace unique sessions like old-school bingo or drag bingo as a way to draw in new audiences.
Examples like this show how important it is to adapt, because the businesses that don’t often end up falling behind.
Standing Still is a Huge Risk
The businesses that are thriving today are the ones that are selling experiences, and not just movies. Consumers want to watch films on the big screen, but at the same time, they want to eat out and shop.
Cinemas that can offer all of this will find that it’s easier to draw in large crowds. Although adopting the latest technology is helpful, not every cinema needs a large-scale investment plan.
Simply adapting to changing consumer expectations is enough, whether that’s offering private viewings, cult movie screenings, upgraded food and beverage menus or even eSport gaming sessions.
The key to operating in today’s landscape isn’t necessarily to grow, but to diversify. By offering something people can’t get anywhere else, it becomes easier to target the right audience and ultimately stay one step ahead of the competition.
Cinemas like ODEON Luxe and Vue EPIC are adopting advanced tech like HDR Barco projection, facial recognition and 270-degree ScreenX walls, which come complete with digital facades, showing how rapidly the movie world is changing, and how indie cinemas need to be just as creative to survive.
