Ipswich Film Theatre

Ipswich Borough Council is thinking of closing the IFT to save money. Sad if this happens as it is a vital resource for the town.

When we lived just north of Ipswich, we used to go to the IFT several times a year and have lots of fond memories. When we first moved to near Cambridge, the Arts Cinema there was a very poor building with bad sight lines and only one screen. Proposals to close it were met with similar protests to those now starting in Ipswich.

The Cambridge solution was derided at the time, but has since proved a winner. Picture House Cinemas, a commercial operator, took over the Arts Cinema and moved it into the derelict ABC cinema in the town. The stalls of this building became a Wetherspoons pub and the upstairs a very comfortable three screen cinema. The concept seems to work as they can show the occassional blockbuster to raise revenue. I think too that because they are just that bit larger and more flexible, it makes the concept work.

Would such a concept work in Ipswich? Probably yes! But knowing the centre pretty well, I don't think there is a really suitable building.

Remember too, that when we moved to Cambridge in 1992, there was only the Arts Cinema and the very run-down ABC. Now the city has a three screen Arts Cinema and two multiplex.

Ipswich, which is about the same size as Cambridge, now has about half the number of screens, so there should be room for growth. Remember that the Odeon failed because it was in the wrong place and parking was much worse when compared to the multiplex. Both Cambridge multiplex have lots of parking.