Ireland’s Omniplex Cinema Group expands into Britain with five acquisitions from ailing Empire Cinema operation
The Swan Centre cineplex in Rathmines is owned by Omniplex
Irish cinema operator Omniplex Cinema Group is expanding into Britain by acquiring five Empire Cinema locations in England and Scotland. More deals are in the works.
The total investment will exceed £22m (€25.6m). The takeover will secure 150 existing jobs at the cinemas in Birmingham, Ipswich, Sutton, Clydebank, and High Wycombe.
The theatres will be rebranded as Omniplex Cinemas.
Further UK sites are expected to be added next year, the family-owned Irish group said.
The UK’s relatively small Empire Cinemas chain was created in 2005 following competition concerns stemming from the mergers of Odeon and UCI, and Cineworld and UGC.
The Empire business has struggled and in the wake of Covid, falling into administration in July this year – meaning the chain missed out on the so-called “Barbenheimer effect” that led to the public flocking to see blockbusters Barbie and Oppenheimer.
Administrators from BDO shut six cinemas in the chain in July, a move that left large UK cities including Sunderland and Wigan with no major cinema for the first time in 100 years, but continued to trade at eight sites while seeking a buyer.
The Omniplex deal includes five of that remaining eight. A multiplex in Sutton Coldfield and two high-end Tivoli-brand venues in Bath and Cheltenham remain on the market .
Omniplex currently operates 38 locations on the island of Ireland.
One of its directors, Paul John Anderson, said the successful operations here had given the business the confidence to expand into Britain,
“Our disciplined approach to investing in our businesses and unwavering drive to operate high-quality cinema locations have proved successful over the years on the island of Ireland, and has given us the confidence to venture into new territories,” he said.
“This expansion is a testament to our commitment to innovation, quality, and delivering unforgettable moments for our customers.”
The former Empire cinemas will be rebranded in line with the Irish parent from this month.
The wider Omniplex group includes the Swan Shopping, including a multi-screen cinema in Rathmines in Dublin, the Scotch Hall Shopping Centre, including a cineplex, in Drogheda, that was bought for €21m this time last year and other property assets.
However, the core of the business is its expanding chain of cinemas on both sides of the Border that currently stands at 270 screens in 38 locations.
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