The closure of south Bristol's last cinema is 'a nail in the coffin' for the area

The closure of Cineworld Hengrove - the last cinema in south Bristol - yesterday (November 26) is going to have a catastrophic effect on people's lives. 

Where are we supposed to enjoy a film with friends now? Or have a family day out? South Bristol is becoming completely barren.         

Ok, we can still travel to Showcase Avonmeads just north of the river for our movie fix, but it’s not the same as having a cinema right on your doorstep.        

Cineworld’s closure seems to have been spurred on by the cinema chain going into administration, but there were always plans to get rid of it anyway.  

Developers have planning permission to demolish the Hengrove Leisure Park cinema and bingo venue next door in order to build 350 homes.         

But what I don’t get is why can’t these plans incorporate a small cinema with one or two screens? There are more than 100,000 people living in south Bristol and so a small cinema is bound to be a success.         

We cannot keep building homes and homes without facilities for people to enjoy. The council needs to intervene and put a stop to this utter madness.      

The closure of Cineworld Hengrove was largely overshadowed last week by the announcement of plans to close Showcase Cinema de Lux in Cabot Circus, another tragic loss to the city. But there are other cinemas in that part of town for people to enjoy.         

What else has south Bristol got? Nothing. We did have a former art deco cinema just round the corner from Cineworld in Knowle West, but rather than repurpose it, the council chose to demolish it. What a missed opportunity.         

The plans to redevelop Broadwalk Shopping Centre in Knowle could also include a two-screen cinema, and if this happens it would make the cinema the only one in south Bristol. The council now needs to do all it can to make this happen.      

You could say that cinemas are in decline nationally and people are now enjoying films at home, but there still is a demand for the facilities.

Nothing beats the smell of the popcorn, the comfort of the chairs and a rummage through the pick and mix. RIP Cineworld Hengrove: a nail in the coffin for south Bristol.