A 14-screen cinema in Ipswich’s Buttermarket shopping area will remain open, despite the fact that employees were facing redundancy weeks ago.
A post on the Omniplex Cinema’s Facebook page assures that it will remain open.
Omniplex informed numerous employees in February that they faced redundancy, with the theater set to close on or before Sunday, March 24.
The property was previously Empire Cinemas, located above in the retail center, but was acquired by the Irish firm in December 2023 and rebranded.
Earlier this week, an Omniplex Ipswich employee told this publication that Omniplex and Buttermarket were renegotiating to reach an agreement, and that all redundancies had been placed on hold.
Staff were apparently assured that previous concerns had been resolved, and there was a 90% chance they would remain open.
The possibility of closure had raised concerns among the business community and councillors.
Terry Baxter, head of Ipswich Central, said the cinema’s closure would be “hugely disappointing,” while borough councillor John Cook said it would be “bad for Ipswich town centre.”