Forest Cinemas is due to open to public on Friday 23rd August following the closure of the former Walthamstow Empire last July, reports Marco Marcelline
The shuttered Walthamstow Empire will re-open as Forest Cinemas this Friday (23rd August).
The films so far confirmed to be showing for the public over the opening weekend include Despicable Me 4, Deadpool & Wolverine, and Alien: Romulus.
In April, it was announced that the independent operator PDJ Cinemas had been appointed to run the cinema, which is located at the Hoe Street end of Walthamstow High Street.
The council says it selected the firm because of its “commitment to the communities it serves”, pointing to its regular family and autism-friendly screenings, and its collaboration with local schools and support for local film festivals and charities.
PDJ Cinemas operates four cinemas across the UK, including Romford’s Premiere cinema, which offers a flat rate of £3.50 for tickets. Tickets at Forest Cinemas are slightly pricier; at £9.50 for adults, £6.50 for children, and £8.50 for seniors and students.
Back in June, James Jervis, PDJ’s director, told the Echo that he was aiming to have the cinema open in “mid to late July” though stressed that the opening could be subject to change “depending on deliveries and technical details”.
James added that PDJ will also be working to upgrade the cinema’s seating screen by screen after the grand opening on Friday, which would take “a few months”.
Forest Cinemas includes some other new features such as an Alfred Hitchcock themed-bar that is accessible by lift. PDJ has additionally promised a film programme of Hollywood hits mixed with international and independent flicks.
Announcing it will open this Friday, Waltham Forest Council leader Grace Williams, said: “I’m delighted that we have our cinema back – given Waltham Forest’s links with the legendary Alfred Hitchcock, it’s only right that local people can enjoy films on the big screen right here on their doorsteps.
“It’s such a good new story that we can work with an independent family-run business like PDJ Cinemas and at the same time create new employment opportunities for residents.”
The council says that 35 jobs have been created by the cinema opening.
When the Empire was shut down in July 2023, due to operating challenges and Covid-related declines in income, the borough was left without a cinema and all 27 employees were made redundant. Underscoring the shock nature of the closure, the company had been hiring for new team members in Walthamstow the week before it shut.
In September, the cinema came under the spotlight again after squatters broke into the empty building and held an illegal rave. Speaking shortly before he was turfed out by council enforcement officers, squatter Enzo Gomes told the Echo how he had gained access to the cinema through a back entrance.
In October last year, a group of local cinema enthusiasts backed away from a potential collaboration with the Prince Charles Cinema to open a mixed-use independent cinema at the site because of the high cost of fixing the damage done by the squatters.
Forest Cinema’s opening comes shortly after councillors approved plans to redevelop a former art-deco cinema in Highams Park. The Regal Cinema, as it was formerly called, will be turned into a mixed use building containing a two-screen cinema, cafe bar, and housing.
Closed since the 1960s, the council approval means the Hale End Road building will be home to 33 one and two-bed flats.
Mammoth Capital plan to “retain” and “restore” the Hale End Road building’s historical art-deco front facade.
Full listings and tickets will shortly be available here
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