Lounge Cinema

A poor quality negative of the interior of the Lounge, before the renovation:–

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4690530276/

The closed-down building, photographed in 2008:
View link

Sad photo’s of the derelict Lounge in 2007 here:–

http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/369952124/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/369952121/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/369952119/

I heard tell that plans to demolish the Lounge for a nightclub were ditched by the Council in Leeds, and quite rightly too. In the meantime, the building stands neglected and rather forlorn – I understand the interior was stripped out pretty much straight away after closure and it looks as if the exterior may not last much longer without being desecrated. Pity Charles Morris couldn’t have saved this cinema as well but greed seems to rule when it comes to the survival of these buildings, and the ATC were in the end only interested in the profits from their adjourning bar, The Arc.

The Cottage Cinema (also in Headingly) has been saved from closure by Northern Morris Cinemas Ltd who own other cinemas in Northern England such as the Rex in Elland and the Regal in Lancaster.

The closure of this cinema is a terrible loss, one that needn’t have happened. There was a total lack of imagination on the part of the managers with regard to the schedule. Showing recent blockbusters, which put the cinema in direct competition with the local multiplexes was never going to be a viable strategy, but they chose to ignore this. On the other hand there are many arthouse and foreign films that, despite good reviews, never get a showing in Leeds.

I recently tried in vain to find somewhere to see “The story of the weeping camel”, and before that “Old Boy”. In the middle of a student area, the Lounge would have been a perfect complement to the only other art cinema in Leeds, the Hyde Park.

They should at the very least have tried changing their strategy rather than plowing regardless on until the credit ran out.

I am deeply suspicous of the motives of the cinemas owners. There is now talk of turning the building into yet another nightclub in an an area that already has far too many, permanent residents are outraged. I wonder if this was the plan all along.

I filmed this cinema shortly after the multimillion pound refit. It looked great and there seemed to be optimism around – but a single screen cinema of that size [one of 3 suburban cinemas in Leeds within 2 miles of each other] just wasn’t a viable investment I guess. very sad.
Terry Ladlow

As I am not sure how long the Lounge website will remain, I have copied the closing statement :–

The Lounge cinema, one of the best known leisure institutions in Headingley, has been closed down by it’s owners, Associated Tower Cinemas (ATC), following declining attendances and mounting losses after a tough five years. The closure has resulted in the redundancy of three full time employees, and some part time employees. In a statement issued today (10 January) ATC said that the closure was a sad blow for the company and its employees involved. The Lounge has been losing money for over five years. We simply cannot compete against the newer Multiplex cinemas and what they have to offer. At this stage ATC has no alternative plans for the Lounge site and they are seeking an urgent meeting with planners and local councilors to discuss how it can be redeveloped. ATC’s other smaller Cottage Road cinema in Headingley is not currently affected by this decision but its future is being reviewed as to its long term viability. For further information please contact: Malcolm Cowing at Brahm Public Relations on 0113 230 4000 or 07770 512266