Forum Topic

Picturehouse cinema

With today's announcement of the indefinite closure of Cineworld cinemas, I wonder what effect this will have on the Ealing cinema project in Filmworks. Picturehouse are the company who I believe are going to be running the new cinema and they are owned by Cineworld...I had noticed a few 'brand' names disappearing off of the adverts for Filmworks, like restaurant chain Vapianos. With the empty retail space in Dickens yard and so many empty shops on the high street, I'm really not sure what they plan to do with Filmworks.

Anna Henderson ● 1666d11 Comments

Vue Cinemas has also announced limited opening times. The problem appears to be primarily films to show rather than audience demand. People will come in numbers to see new films but so few are being made at the moment. This will revert to normal at some point but what won't change is the increasing number of films being released through streaming services. This could mean that there simply aren't enough films to support an 8 screen venue like the one planned here even when the pandemic is over. Smaller venues like the one to be built in Acton won't have that problem and so will be more viable. It is time the Council and St George stopped pretending there isn't a serious problem with the current plan.

Gordon Southwell ● 1657d

It's obvious when you point it out!The Walpole closed down permanently on 28th October 1972 and  the tiled facade was saved from demolition in 1981 and moved a few yards to the car park opposite the side entrance to Pitzhanger Manor.

Phil Kay ● 1662d

The Ealing Today article has confused The Walpole which used to be on Bond Street with the with the ABC, the cinema demolished ten years ago and whose facade has been retained on the Uxbridge Road. The ABC, originally The Forum and built in 1934 was never a skating rink. The Walpole started out as a skating rink in 1908 but was turned into a cinema a few years later in 1912.

Terry Freestone ● 1663d

You're correct about the date.  A document on the council website says that the cinema building was:"Operated previously by ABC, Cannon, UGC andCineworld, it was converted into a three screen in 1975.Empire Cinemas took over in 2005 and closed the cinemain September 2008."So no cinema in central Ealing for 12 years.  More than a pity, less than a disaster.

Phil Kay ● 1663d

It can't have been demolished in 1981 because I remember going in there and I didn't move to this delightful area until much later

Kala Mitty Jayne ● 1663d

Quelle Surprise

Libby Kemp ● 1665d

You are right - it is a real problem for them if the secondary market price of equivalent units drops below the list price of the units to be built. I'm guessing selling them off plan doesn't tie them into a completion date.

Mark Evans ● 1665d

Oh I don't think you can find out if the units have been sold as they're done off plan for the moment?

Anna Henderson ● 1665d

There are so many unsold and resell units in Dickens Yard at the moment (a quick look on rightmove shows) I really don't understand how anyone would buy one in Filmworks. If you want an overpriced flat with an extortionate service charge, no crossrail in sight, no really interesting shops or restaurants and no green space, you don't need to buy at Filmworks. Perhaps though the developers are counting on things improving in the long term. But then there will Perceval House and the monstrosities planned for West Ealing... all the same, all equally unattractive and depressing.

Anna Henderson ● 1665d

The cinema was a largely symbolic part of the scheme inserted at council insistence. The problem for Berkeley is that in calling the development Filmworks and theming the blocks with names of movie stars, they might find it awkward even now to ditch the cinema.Does anyone know if any units in the development have been sold yet?

Mark Evans ● 1665d

This will be the big issue for the short term investment. A new cinema in the centre of Ealing may be attractive in the long term especially if the population grows around crossrail (when ready). but whether these developers suffer short term cash issues and whether leases are overpriced for the hospitality sector is another thing.

Peter Chadburn ● 1666d