Seaside cinema closure threatened

The cinema in Tenby has been showing films for 95 years

Film fans in a west Wales seaside town are being urged to use their local cinema or risk losing it altogether.

The Royal Playhouse in Tenby which has been a cinema for almost a century, has been earmarked for development.

The cinema's current manager fears the developer could apply to change the building into something else because visitor numbers have dwindled.

The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority has said it is interested in preserving the front of the building.

The listed building which has been a cinema since around 1913, has 438 fold up seats and plays 35mm film.

Its interior was a later feature which means the cinema itself may not be protected like the front of the building.

It is full to capacity when we have things like the Harry Potters. But even on the last Harry Potter it was more like 90% full Steve Williams, manager Royal Playhouse

Manager Steve Williams said if people believed a tourist town like Tenby needed a cinema, they had to start talking with their feet.

"The site is due for development and if people don't support the cinema it is highly likely the developers will consider that there is not a need for a cinema in Tenby and they will use the site for something different," he said.

"It is full to capacity when we have things like the Harry Potters. But even on the last Harry Potter it was more like 90% full.

"This is as a result of the very short lead time between being on the screen and being available in the shops on DVD."

Mr Williams also blamed DVD piracy for the dwindling numbers and said that even if a cinema was included in any new development, it might already be too late for the Playhouse.

The new picture house would have to be smaller and therefore even less likely to make a profit, he said

If the Royal Playhouse were to close, the nearest cinemas would be in Haverfordwest and Swansea.

Local people have blamed changes in lifestyle, a lack of film choice in the Playhouse and its uncomfortable seats for staying away.

But one local woman said a cinema in the town was essential for the tourist trade.

"Towns like Tenby which relies on tourism desperately needs a cinema for wet days in the summer and cold nights in the winter," she said.