Cinema to close after failed community takeover

Kinokulture has been based in a converted chapel and former youth centre

A community cinema is to close permanently later this month despite hopes it could continue under new management.

Ian Garland and Ruth Carter have run Kinokulture, in the converted old Kingswell Chapel, in Oswestry for 14 years and are now retiring.

They announced its closure in 2022 but wanted to pass it on to the community under a new lease, but the current one will run out later this month and is not being renewed.

The final screening will be on 23 April and the pair have thanked supporters.

James Bond from The Oswestry Film Society said a bid by the community interest group who discussed taking it on had been in doubt "for a little while" and then "failed at the last minute".

"Time has run out, there isn't enough time to keep Kinokulture going," he said.

"The lease is up towards the end of this month with the owners of the building it is in, so very sadly Oswestry cinema is going, but I am hoping to fly the flag in some little way."

The film society has shown two films a month at the cinema and will continue to do so at a new venue in the town, he said.

"Full marks to Ruth and Ian who have run this cinema for the last 15 years," he said.

"It's been a tremendous asset to Oswestry and I'm really personally sad to see it close and sad too from the Oswestry Film Society's point of view too."