More information has been revealed about the reasons behind the closure of Swindon’s Empire Cinema.

The multiplex chain has filed for administration and closed seven of its sites, including the one at Greenbridge Retail Park, while its boss claims that the company is seeking to save as many cinemas and jobs as possible.

The impact of the long closures during the pandemic, low attendance levels in the months that followed, and increased costs due to high inflation have been blamed for this decision.

READ MORE: Empire Cinema in Swindon closes suddenly

Swindon’s only IMAX-capable cinema suddenly closed on Friday, along with the cinemas in Bishop’s Stortford, Catterick Garrison, Sunderland, Swindon, Walthamstow, and Wigan.

The remaining Empire Cinemas in Birmingham, Clydebank, High Wycombe, Ipswich and Sutton, as well as the two Tivoli sites in Bath and Cheltenham, will continue to trade while the joint administrators at BDO seek a buyer for some or all of the remaining cinemas within the group’s portfolio.

Group CEO Justin Ribbons said: “As a consequence of Covid-19, we found ourselves in a position where we were mandated by government to close down our cinema chain in its entirety for protracted periods in 2020 and 2021, leaving us with a high fixed cost base and no income.

“Cinema attendance levels have not yet returned to pre-Covid-19 levels and the operating environment remains extremely challenging, with extraordinary levels of utility costs and rates, and persistently high levels of inflation leading to increased costs and a squeeze on discretionary spending by consumers which has inevitably created profitability issues for the group.

“The decision to appoint administrators has not been taken lightly but will give us the best chance to protect the viable parts of the business and secure as many jobs as possible.”

Any firms interested in supporting the cinema chain should contact empirecinemas@bdo.co.uk while customers with enquiries should email help@empirecinemas.co.uk

Gift cards and ticket e-codes purchased by customers will continue to be honoured. Advance ticket bookings at any cinemas that are continuing to trade will remain valid. Advance ticket purchases at closed cinemas have been refunded.

Mr Ribbons added: “It has been a difficult economic environment for any business to manage through without long term damage and having exhausted all other available options for the business, we firmly believe that this process can be a platform to restructure the business and preserve as many of our cinemas and the maximum number of jobs as possible.”