Film / News
Curzon’s Record-Breaking Year
Cinema was supposed to be long dead by now, if the prognosticators were to be believed. First, it was expected to be killed by telly. Then the video and subsequent DVD boom should have finished off the fleapits. More recently, it was being claimed by excitable commentators that cinemagoing would become a dying habit because ‘the kids’ are more interested in waving their arms around to repetitive beats in fields or staying at home to play video games and LOL one another on social media. The advent of streaming, which makes vast libraries of films available instantly, was also – you guessed it – expected to herald the death knell for cinema.
Throughout all of this nonsense, Clevedon’s independent, Grade II listed art deco Curzon has just carried on screening films for the local community. Since 1912, in fact – the cinema’s proud boast being that it’s the oldest continuously operated cinema in the world. And when manager Luke Doran finished counting the beans for 2017, he found that it had been a record-breaking year. The Curzon notched up 74,000 admissions over the last 12 months, an increase of 6,500 on 2016.
Paddington 2 was a big hit for the Curzon
That’s partly because of the success of blockbusters (big hits for the Curzon included Paddington 2, Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Murder on the Orient Express), but also because the cinema regularly asks its patrons what they want to see. Christmas screenings of Polar Express, It’s a Wonderful Life and The Muppet Christmas Carol all sold out, which is particularly impressive when you consider that the cinema has a whopping 320 seats to fill. “We have a huge auditorium,” says Luke. “To fill it is such a great feeling for all the team and creates a buzzing atmosphere for audiences.”
The immersive Moulin Rouge party packed ’em in too
Other imaginative film events – such as the immersive Moulin Rouge party, an all-night Harry Potterthon for Halloween and plenty of event cinema broadcasts – have helped to boost numbers. All this good work was recognised when the Curzon was shortlisted at last year’s Screen International Screen Awards in the Cinema of the Year (24 Screens or Fewer) category. Alas, Luke and his team didn’t walk away with the gong, but, he says, “we feel the national recognition as a nominee was hugely valuable and a testament to the growing success of the cinema.”
You can find full details of all screenings at the Curzon, and every other local cinema, in our comprehensive film listings.
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
