St Saviour Deputy Kevin Lewis, who ran the Cine de France for two decades, said there was ‘nothing sadder’ than a boarded-up cinema, and he was disheartened to see many closing as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Islanders have had a movie theatre to attend since T J West opened his Picture Palace in Peter Street in 1909. A number of cinemas have come and gone since then, including West’s, the Forum and the Odeon, as well as Deputy Lewis’ last venue, the New Forum, based in the former Odeon cinema in Bath Street. This opened in 2004, but closed after five years, leaving the Cineworld complex at the Waterfront as the Island’s only cinema.
However, last week Cineworld confirmed it would be closing its doors indefinitely after being unable to operate successfully during the pandemic.
Following the announcement, Senator Sam Mézec and St Brelade Deputy Montfort Tadier underlined the importance of having such a facility for Islanders, while Chief Minister John Le Fondré said the government would help to provide a cinema ‘if it was to become an issue’.
Deputy Lewis, who also organises the Jersey Film Festival in Howard Davis Park, expressed his desire to see Islanders able to watch films on the big screen again.
‘I sincerely hope that Cineworld will reopen,’ he said. ‘Otherwise I will do all I can to ensure Jersey has a cinema – even if it means breaking out the drive-in cinema again.’
