Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International The U.K.’s Empire Cinemas has gone into administration with six movie theaters shuttering immediately, Variety can confirm.
Empire operates 12 locations under the Empire brand and two Tivoli-branded cinemas in Bath and Cheltenham. The companies employ 437 people across England and Scotland.
Around 150 staff — roughly a third of the company’s workforce — have been laid off as part of the administration process. BDO LLP have been appointed as administrators handling the case.
So far, Empire cinemas have closed in Bishop’s Stortford, Catterick Garrison, Sunderland, Swindon, Walthamstow and Wigan. In addition, a site that was previously shuttered at Sutton Coldfield won’t reopen.
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