Ealing Cinema

Angie met with Justin Ribbons, CEO of Empire Cinemas, to ask him why it is taking so long to get our cinema back in the centre of Ealing. For some time now Ealing has been without a cinema, and residents have had to travel away from Ealing, so famous for its film heritage, to watch the latest films. A local campaign group, 'Save our Cinema', has sprung up, as residents demand to know what progress has been made towards building the new cinema that Ealing deserves.

Angie agrees that Ealing needs its cinema, and that the current situation cannot go on. During her meeting with Justin Ribbons, she asked why the old site had been allowed to languish for so long (see pictured, left) and just when Empire plan on building the new cinema they have promised. Mr Ribbons was very positive about the future for the cinema, and said that Empire is committed to delivering one of the best cinemas in the country in Ealing. He said that, if all goes to plan, building work could begin before the end of the year. But, he also said that it is essential that the Council sign off on minor changes to the plans before work can start.

After the meeting Angie said, "The simple message that I hope I got across was that it is ridiculous, as well as unacceptable, that Ealing, of all places, with its history of film, should still be without a cinema. It seems we may have to do a bit of banging of heads together – Empire and the Council – but if that's what it takes, then so be it. I have another meeting with Empire in September to chart progress, and I have made it as clear as I can that I really do expect there to have been some progress."

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