The announcement that the Vue cinema in Grants will close its doors next week is deeply disappointing.
For many residents, this isn’t just another business shutting. It’s a place where memories were made - family trips, first dates, weekends with friends. For over two decades, it has been part of the fabric of our town centre.
Let me be clear: decisions like this are not taken lightly, and I recognise that this particular closure is unlikely to be reversed. Croydon’s town centre, like many others across the country, is evolving - and we are working hard to support that change, attract investment, and bring more people back into the heart of our borough.
But we should not ignore what this closure represents.
This is not an isolated case. It is part of a wider trend affecting cinemas and high street leisure venues across the UK.
Even now, cinema attendance remains well below pre-pandemic levels. Fewer people are going, less often. At the same time, the cost of operating a cinema has risen sharply. Staffing, energy, and property costs are all increasing - and national policy is making that situation worse, not better.
Changes to employer National Insurance are increasing the cost of employing front-line staff in sectors like hospitality and leisure. Business rates remain a heavy burden on town centre venues. And analysis from UKHospitality shows that many businesses will see their overall tax burden rise further from 2026.
Put simply: the numbers are no longer stacking up.
Cinemas are not just commercial operators. They are anchors for our town centres. They bring people in, support surrounding restaurants and shops, and help create the kind of vibrant, safe evening economy we all want to see.
When a cinema closes, it doesn’t just affect that one building. It reduces footfall, weakens nearby businesses, and makes it harder to sustain a thriving high street.
That is why I have written to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to call for action.
If we are serious about supporting our high streets and protecting access to culture, we need to look again at the policy environment facing cinemas and similar venues.
That means:
- Looking at VAT on cinema tickets to help keep prices affordable
- Reassessing business rates for cultural and leisure venues
- Understanding the cumulative impact of recent tax changes on labour-intensive sectors
The Government has rightly supported the production side of the film industry. But we must not forget the places where people actually go to watch those films.
Croydon is changing - and I believe strongly that our town centre has a bright future. We are seeing new investment, improvements to public spaces, and renewed confidence in our borough.
But progress is not inevitable. It requires the right decisions - locally and nationally.
The closure of Vue in Grants should be a warning sign. With the right support, we can protect and strengthen this sector. Without it, we risk seeing more venues lost, and with them, more of the life of our town centres.
Lots done. Lots more to do.
