Hastings cinema says it faces closure without community support

A cinema in Hastings is calling on the community to support it or face imminent closure.
Electric Palace Cinema SUS-200813-125956001Electric Palace Cinema SUS-200813-125956001
Electric Palace Cinema SUS-200813-125956001

The Electric Palace in the Old Town, which opened in 2002, reopened its doors at the end of August after being shut in March due to lockdown.

It is run by a small team of five staff and a dedicated army of volunteers.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Before the pandemic it was operating at its full capacity of 48 seats.

Now the independent cinema is limited to only having 15 tickets available per screening because of spacing safety measures due to coronavirus (Covid-19).

Due to the new measures, the Electric Palace said it now faces mounting building rental, film licencing costs and other overheads that were previously viable.

It added unless all its planned current season of films sell out, the cinema will be unable to continue into 2021 and will likely close in December this year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Rebecca E Marshall, the cinema’s owner and founder and local film director, said: “I want to say a heartfelt thank you to all our staff and volunteers for working so hard to make the cinema feel such a safe and welcoming place in these difficult circumstances.

“I’ve had great feedback from our audience who are delighted to come in and feel safe in our space with other film lovers, enjoying the serenity and transformative power of watching a film in a darkened room.

“I was born in Hastings and when we opened the cinema back in 2002, I didn’t dream that such a small venue would still be successfully running 18 years later.

“Hastings has changed and grown so much during this time, and I am proud to offer an affordable, welcoming night out – an evening that often ends with a round of applause for the film, and a post-film chat. This has always warmed my heart.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“With the security of our customers at the forefront of our mind, we are selling only 15 tickets per event so everyone is ensured of a two-metre space around them.

“However, these safety measures mean that we are currently running at a big loss. We need every screening filled up, and we need extra support from you to donate to us, or become an official friend of the cinema through our website.

“I am passionate about The Electric Palace cinema, because it helps to keep the appreciation of cinema alive in its most provoking, challenging and entertaining forms. Through sharing stories both big and small, cinema helps connect us to our communities, as well as to people around the world. The Electric Palace is a very special place with a rich and colourful history, and it has brought so many people together.”

Annie Mannion, Electric Palace marketing manager, said: “The Electric Palace staff and volunteers wish to extend heartfelt thanks for everyone’s support so far for its reopening, but if you want this much-loved community asset to continue, we really need you to visit us now.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Please come along to screenings, take a risk on a film that’s out of your comfort zone, bring a friend, book a private hire session as a gift for a loved one, buy gift vouchers as presents, donate to us, share our screenings on social media to raise awareness, or become an official Friend of the Electric Palace cinema.”

To become an official Friend of the Electric Palace cinema, visit www.electricpalacecinema.com/support-the-cinema.

To see what’s on, visit www.electricpalacecinema.com/whats-on.

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Stay safe, and best wishes.