FILM lovers are to enjoy a more American-style cinema-going culture after three Merseyside cinemas applied for permission to show films into the early hours of the morning.
Odeon Cinemas is preparing to show films up to 3.30am at its 10 and 12-screen cinemas on London Road in Liverpool and at Switch Island leisure park.
It means an extra late film could be shown each evening, allowing the venue to squeeze in more titles to its schedule and show more independent films.
Rudi Fitzgerald, marketing assistant for Odeon Liverpool, said: "It's happening across the industry.
"Everyone is moving to a more US-style service where people can go to the cinema later in the evening.
"Until two years ago, we did have a 2am licence but we cancelled it. It seemed to work in term time when the students were home but we weren't getting the people in the rest of the year.
"The thinking in the industry is that people are heading more towards the US screening times with films starting at 9pm or 10pm or later."
Mr Fitzgerald described the UK cinema industry as being in a slump, with audiences opting to stay at home with a cheap rental DVD rather than an evening out.
He said: "Extended hours would allow us to fit more screenings in, which would give the public more flexibility to choose when they want to go to the cinema.
"At the moment, our earliest showing is usually 11.50am, and that is likely to stay the same. We have applied for the 9am opening time, but that will probably only be used if we have something special on like a back-to-back trilogy. The aim is to boost the coffers by giving the public more choice. It is also likely to mean a greater variety of films.
News RSS Feed