THE boss of a cinema chain coming to Lichfield has stepped down after the firm posted a profit warning.
Everyman’s chief executive Alex Scrimgeour has left the role and will be replaced by non-executive director Farah Golant on an interim basis.
It comes after the operator cut its financial forecasts earlier this month, warning expected revenues to be down from £121.5million to £114.5million for this year.
The news comes as work continues on the revamp of the former Debenhams store in the Three Spires Shopping Centre to accommodate the new multi-screen facility in Lichfield city centre.
Philip Jacobson, non-executive chairman of Everyman Media Group PLC, said:
“We would like to thank Alex for his commitment to Everyman throughout his tenure.
“He has played a pivotal role in the team that successfully led the business through its recovery from Covid, more than doubling revenue. He has also built a strong and capable operational team.
“Farah has extensive experience across the global creative, entertainment and media industries, and a track record of accelerating growth and cultivating high performance, results-oriented organisations.
“Working alongside our leadership group, she will continue to deliver exceptional customer experiences, focus on driving sustainable growth and create long-term value for shareholders.”
Excellent, along with the failing Botanist chain it’s all shaping up nicely!
Not really news we want to hear, especially for a venture many (including me) are concerned about not being viable in Lichfield in the first place 😕
I would love to see successful businesses established in Lichfield. Unfortunately I doubt this will be one of them. There has recently been a merger of two worldwide streaming services for films and studios are directing their production to this. The reincarnation of the cinema has had its day and has become very expensive. I only hope the commitment of the local council does not prove ruinous.
Sounds ominous. Who’d have thought with UK cinema attendances falling long term with the rise of streaming services and home cinema.
Only LDC could back a dead horse. Desperate to fill Debenhams I think Everyman ‘lucked out’ knowing that when the inevitable happens LDC will be forced to bail out the white elephant project…
I said they were not making a profit near two years ago when I checked their open finacial records.
Pointless cinema chain only the minority in lichfield can comfortably afford.
It’s amazing that anyone can hear anything over the nay-sayers. No doubt the same people that are complaining about the redevelopment are the same complaining about the empty units in the area.
The Debenhams building has been empty for some time. Something needed to happen to it. A cinema is something the area is lacking – either Tamworth or Sutton are the other options, adding at least an additional hour to your film experience. Neither of those are cheap either.
Bringing more people into the town, attracting more businesses to the area, and redeveloping big sites like the Debenhams store – that is how an area continues to thrive and grow. Otherwise you end up in a situation like Sutton Coldfield where there are huge numbers of sad, empty units, and the town centre all turns into housing.
Sadly this looks like a disaster in the making to me. In these days of home streaming, I can’t see enough people wanting to use this facility to make it viable, especially with the lack of near-by car parks since the multi-storey was demolished.
Why is it that most of us with even slight business sense could all see the unlikely longevity of this and other projects through checks and balances weighted against the risk of tax payers money, yet the Council leader and fellow Councillors fail to recognise their fantasy follies are just simply that. How they continue to exert such behaviour to residents of this City is unfathomable.
Well lets hope this isnt another ‘white elephant’ project that has been a waste of council tax payers money.
I think the building would have been put to better use having part of it converted for a Marks and Spencer food hall.
M & S are opening lots of these food halls but it seems that Lichfield has yet again missed out.
Three Botanist bars closed in January 2025 and the Botanist bar in Temple Street in Birmingham closed in July. Time will tell.
Dear Anon You are not corrcet Red Carpet in Barton Marina complex is closest for most of us , very well run, 2 screens + reasonably priced with good food all run as a family business with still a free car park in very pleasant lakeside surroundings. You should try it. Many of us enjoy the place
Love the business experts that emerge on this thread. Barton marina is nowhere near for people who actually live in lichfield. Let’s support a really positive venture for lichfield or why not move somewhere else. Happy new year
Months ago, EVERYONE. knew a cinema was a disaster. Everyone knew the trend of cinema goers was dwindling. Everyone apart from Doug Pullen, that is.
How is it possible to be this wrong, and in charge of public money?? Genuinely staggering.
Let’s hope this is a success, it’s un reasonable for young people to go to Tamworth to go to the cinema and that’s now £2. The city is meant to be for all to enjoy. More and more young families are moving to Lichfield and this needs to be taken into account in planning. It’s a shame so many long standing residence are apposed to change. They would rather see an empty high street than a high street that brings in people.
Given how much folk wanted a cinema I’m sure it’ll be a big success!
We treated ourselves ( Christmas gift) to the Newly Released Third animated Movie In the Series. Cinema Tamworth Cost £44.98 for two.,…. Inc Booking fee…..Coke £3. coffee £4.50,
So over £50 .. These prices below Everyman.
There were 6 people in Theatre. Us along with two more Elderly Couples.
The Cinema Experience was nil.
The Everyman Wrong Time Wrong place like the rest of LDC projects.
Is there still a demographic that is willing to regularly outlay what has been suggested for a “Cinema experience and thus sustain LDC’s cinematic ambitions ?
I’m incapable of providing evidence as I’ve outlaid for the experience just twice in the 4 decades since our children were under 10, and am unaware of a demographic that can provide any more useful evidence.
Clearly the evidence available to me would appear to be contrary to whatever due diligence has been exercised at Lichfield D C.
As an LDC council tax payer I wish I could muster better evidence to dissuade me from concluding that I’m subsidising a white elephant.
A modest, really good but cheap cinema like the Picture House in Cannock would have been much better for this location in Lichfield than this very expensive version. I think there is a market for cinemas in today’s society given the right circumstances and when I visit the cinema in Cannock they seem to do very well because the customer are looked after and not ripped off .