Plans for a new cinema in Ripon submitted to council

Independent operators John Tate and John Hewitt have submitted plans to create a three-screen cinema in the site of the Original Factory Shop in Fishergate.

If approved by North Yorkshire Council, it would be Ripon’s first cinema in since the closure of the Curzon Cinema in North Street nearly three years ago.

Mr Tate and Mr Hewitt are both members of the Executive Board of the UK Cinema Association, and run cinemas in Ilkley and Wetherby.

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The factory shop, which has traded in the city for around 40 years, is due to close on Sunday, if not before.

The closure of the 10,000 sq ft three-storey retail outlet was announced in February.

Mr Tate told Tim Flanagan of the Rejoicing in Ripon blog; “Ripon is one of the few places of its size in the north of England that is without a cinema and we have been looking for an opportunity there for six years, as we believe that it is a city on the up and with great potential.

“By strange coincidence, I discovered during my research on Ripon that my grandfather and namesake, John Henry Tate, was born at a house on North Street in October 1883 and I take this as a lucky omen

“We are delighted to have signed a lease, subject to planning, for a change of use from retail unit to cinema on 14–16 Fishergate and hope to secure the necessary permission to proceed as soon as possible.”

The site of the former Curzon Cinema (Image: Northern Echo)

Mr Tate added: “We will be showing a wide range of films, including the latest blockbusters 🍿 and current releases, alongside Event Cinema, National Theatre Live, Royal Opera House productions, cinema stage musicals, documentaries and independent foreign-language films.

“We will also have schemes for the over 60s, families with babies, and film-lovers of all ages will be able to enjoy food and drink in the comfortable lounge area or in the auditorium while watching a film or performance.”

Ripon BID, who broke the story of the planned cinema, has offered its strong support for the scheme.

Ripon BID Manager Lilla Bathurst said: “We will do everything within our power to support the application, which will add substantially to the city’s retail and leisure offering.”

“This is phenomenal news for Ripon and is a further sign of the confidence that investors have in the historic Cathedral City of the Dales 🕍

“Our post‑covid recovery puts us high on the list of UK locations where independent businesses want to be — and importantly, places where people want to visit.”

Lilla added: “I believe that this £1.25 million investment will be the catalyst for further inward investment in our thriving city.”

Robert Sterne, director of Sterne Properties Ltd, which owns the former Curzon site in North Street told Ripon BID that it was too late to get Curzon to re-open on the site.

He also told Ripon BID he welcomed the proposed cinema use on Fishergate and his company remained “fully committed” to returning the Curzon premises to use as a family leisure facility.