Cineworld appears set to close one of its Swindon cinemas will close in the coming months.
The multiplex chain previously announced that it would close 25 of its 100 UK sites as part of plans to save the wider business from financial ruin.
Sources told Sky News that around half a dozen of these Cineworld cinemas would begin a closure process immediately and shut for good this summer.
Those six locations were revealed to be Regent Circus in Swindon - as well as Glasgow Parkhead, Bedford, Hinckley, Loughborough and Yate.
A consultation process will now move forward with the employees affected. Cineworld says it will offer as many redeployment opportunities as possible.
The company has also announced plans to reduce rent to market level at multiple UK sites in a bid to return Cineworld to profitability.
It is not known how many sites have asked their landlords to reduce the rent, but SkyNews previously reported the number as 50.
A Cineworld spokesperson said: “We are implementing a restructuring plan that will provide our company with a strong platform to return our business to profitability, attract further investment from the group, and ensure a sustainable long-term future for Cineworld in the UK.”
This plan will now go before the court, and if approved, it is expected to go into effect in September.
The company says the total number of locations impacted by the restructuring plan won't be known until the process is completed, so more details are expected later this year.
The news comes as a blow to the town centre Regent Circus complex, which - once Cineworld closes - will have the Boom Battle Bar and Nando's left as its only occupiers.
Shaw Ridge seems to be safe from any risk of closure.
While the restructuring plan is ongoing, Cineworld's sites will continue to operate as normal.
In September 2022, Cineworld filed for bankruptcy protection in America, with Bloomsberg UK reporting that the company was seeking help to pay off "nearly $9 billion of debt and leases accumulated as part of an acquisition spree".
Since then, two Cineworld sites have closed down in Runcorn and Bristol, with both ceasing trading on November 26, 2023.
Last month, it was announced that three London cinemas from the Picturehouse chain also owned by Cineworld would be closed by the beginning of August.
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