The curtains are set to close on an 18 year chapter for Penrith’s Alhambra Cinema in October as Alan Towers who has operated Penrith’s last remaining cinema, has announced he is to “ride off into the sunset” after 18 years, but the silver screen at the Alhambra will continue to show the latest blockbusters.
In what could be billed as "back to the future" Graves Cumberland Ltd, owners of the property, who operate Cinemas in Workington and Whitehaven and in the past operated the Alhambra will be taking on the running of the Alhambra cinema once again, with a handover set to take place towards the end of October, with all staff expected to be unaffected and screenings continuing at the towns last remaining cinema.
Alan has said shrinking audiences and rising costs as the main reasons for his departure. The Penrith Cinema has in the last few months has been forced to run films to empty theatres and like many cinemas has offered reduced ticket prices in an effort to increase audiences and recover from the impact of the pandemic.
The Alhambra Theatre as it was known opened as a live entertainment venue in 1906, on the site of a Brewery. In the 1920’s films became the main entertainment offering.
In 1971 the Alhambra closed with the Regent Cinema providing the film screenings in the town, The Alhambra was converted into a bingo hall which continued until 1984.
In 1984 the Alhambra was divided into a bingo hall and cinema. In 2007 it was renamed to the Lonsdale Alhambra Cinemas for the screen side and Opera Bingo for the bingo hall. 2010 to 2018 saw changes with the risk of closures the former MP Rory Stewart got involved with a local group set up to save the cinema from closure. They were successful in saving the Cinema but the bingo hall had closed, replaced by Indian Plaza that opened in the building and continues to serve customers with a mix of food and entertainment in the former bingo hall. The smaller former Ribble Bus company shop adjoining the cinema was also converted into a 3rd screen with 32-seats and forms part of the current Alambra Cinema’s three screen offering.