UK cinema market has 'good' opportunities

Reports of the death of the UK cinema market could be a little premature as good opportunities still exist according to the Managing Director John Sullivan of independent cinema consultants OzSeeker.
Mr Sullivan, who acts for a range of operators and local authorities in the UK and Europe, said that, while some areas of the UK are suffering from over-development, other locations are not being fully exploited.
"Although certain areas - for example Manchester and parts of the North West - are ‘overscreened’, there are still significant opportunities in other areas. In many instances these are for town centre ‘mini-plexes’ or efficient and economic multiplexes – sub-sectors of the market which, so far, have been vastly under exploited in the UK," he said.
He went on to say that, while the out-of-town locations had been highly successful in targeting the 14 to 22 age range, older, more affluent, audiences remain untapped.
Mr Sullivan continued: “Local authorities who have been advised against cinema developments on the grounds of non-viability should look again. It is my belief that many of the larger town centres are capable of supporting smaller but well-designed, efficient and well-managed multiplexes.”
Previously a consultant to Warner Village, Mr Sullivan has been involved in the establishment of over 30 major centres around the country, from the largest to smaller citiplex schemes such as Worcester.
Mr Sullivan believes that cinema development should now be in providing more efficient, community orientated schemes to service local markets. "By providing high quality facilities on a more local scale the frequency with which people go to the cinema will increase,” he said.
The rate of cinema going in the UK is currently 2.6 per person per year, compared to nearly four in Ireland and six in the USA and Australia.
(GMcG)