A preferred operator has been announced to bring Aberdeen’s Belmont Cinema back into operation, following its closure in 2022.
Belmont Community Cinema Ltd will lead plans for an ‘ambitious’ refurbishment of the building.
The organisation was born out of the Save the Belmont Cinema campaign, with Aberdeen City Council saying that it has a directorship drawing on experienced personnel with knowledge and skills in cinema, capital development, business, marketing, community engagement, and education.
Belmont Community Cinema’s plans would see the venue open as an independent, not-for-profit cinema which would become a space for ‘all’ arts and include a licensed restaurant in the basement bar area, with an improved hospitality and food offering being ‘central’ to plans.
A timeline provided in Belmont Community Cinema’s business plan indicates a target to reopen in July/August 2024, which allows for a six month period to carry out due diligence, condition surveys, finalisation of costs, contraction, and fundraising prior to commencement of refurbishment works in April 2024.
Aberdeen City Council co-leader, councillor Ian Yuill, commented, “People have missed having an independent cinema in our city centre since the Belmont Cinema closed. Choosing a preferred operator is a very important step towards reopening the Belmont Cinema under new management.
“We look forward to seeing the preferred operator develop their plans into a thriving and popular cinema once again.”
