“The more films our audiences come to watch, the more likely it is that we will survive. It’s that simple.”
The Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle upon Tyne, the UK’s last surviving newsreel theatre and the North East’s only full-time independent cinema, has launched an urgent fundraising campaign to avoid closure.
This 86-year-old cultural landmark and registered charity faces serious financial pressure after a sustained post-pandemic drop in audiences, rising energy costs and reductions in public funding. The charity reports a 40% decline in audience numbers compared with pre-Covid levels and a near-300% increase in energy bills, creating an unprecedented challenge to keep the Grade II listed building open and operating.
Founded by Dixon Scott, great-uncle of film directors Sir Ridley and Tony Scott, Tyneside Cinema serves over 500,000 people annually through its programme of independent and blockbuster films, foreign-language and award-winning titles, festivals, community activities, and its on-site cafés and bars. As a living wage employer and a vital hub for the region’s film and arts community, the cinema plays an essential role in supporting emerging filmmakers and local talent.
Simon Drysdale, the cinema’s interim CEO, has appealed to the public for immediate support. “This is potentially the worst funding crisis Tyneside Cinema has faced in its history,” he said. “While we survived the pandemic thanks to many generous supporters and public funding, audiences have not returned to previous levels and public sector budgets are under strain. Without prompt help from the community, we risk becoming another cultural venue forced to close permanently.”
How to help
The most effective way to support Tyneside Cinema is to donate directly to the charity through its official support page: tynesidecinema.co.uk/about-us/support-us. Donations can also be made via the JustGiving campaign at justgiving.com/campaign/lovetynesidecinema, or by texting LOVETYNESIDE to 70085 to donate £5.
Tyneside Cinema’s official statement
An urgent fundraising appeal has been launched to safeguard Tyneside Cinema’s future. The charity warns that a combination of post-Covid audience decline, the cost-of-living crisis, spiralling utility bills and cuts to public sector funding have created a significant threat to its continued operation. Without additional support from the public and partners, the historic venue could follow the fate of other independent cinemas and theatres across the UK that have closed in recent years.
Tyneside Cinema successfully reopened after pandemic restrictions, supported by its patrons, donors, Arts Council England, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the Heritage Lottery Fund and the British Film Institute. Despite that help, the cinema’s footfall remains substantially below pre-pandemic levels and operating costs—chiefly energy for heating, cooling and lighting—have trebled, placing acute pressure on finances.
The building’s listed status adds complexity and cost to maintenance and adaptation, and the charity is negotiating with its landlord to secure a more sustainable rental arrangement. The cinema is pursuing fairer, market-reflective rent terms rather than agreements indexed to RPI, which have become unsustainable in the current economic climate. Achieving a viable rent would help preserve Tyneside’s ability to screen a diverse range of films and to host arts and educational programmes for the North East.
To address immediate financial challenges, trustees have already implemented measures to reduce overheads, including revised opening hours and ticket pricing adjustments. A review of staff costs is also under way, and the organisation has entered consultation with employees about potential small-scale redundancies—an outcome the cinema is keen to avoid but may be necessary to secure long-term viability.
Three years ago Tyneside Cinema underwent a comprehensive operational overhaul following an independent review. A new chair, board of trustees and senior management team were appointed to strengthen governance and restore public confidence. The cinema acknowledges past mistakes identified in that review but stresses that the organisation is now in a new era and urgently needs community backing.
Tyneside Cinema remains committed to championing independent film and providing an accessible cultural resource for Newcastle and the wider North East. “Preserving and building on that unique history is one of the driving forces behind our campaign,” Drysdale said. “We are determined to save this vital and unique institution that people in the region are rightly proud of.”
The cinema’s appeal is simple: donations and visits. Regular attendance supports ticket revenue and helps demonstrate public demand when seeking further funding and partnerships. “The more films our audiences come to watch, the more likely it is that we will survive,” Drysdale added. “It’s that simple.”
To donate to the Tyneside Cinema fundraising appeal, visit https://tynesidecinema.co.uk/about-us/support-us/, go to the JustGiving campaign at https://justgiving.com/campaign/lovetynesidecinema or text LOVETYNESIDE to 70085 to give £5.
