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Ripon's new three-screen cinema set to open in early 2027

Tuesday, 10 November 2026 at 12:00

Ripon's new cinema will feature a luxury lounge where visitors can enjoy food and drinks.

Ripon's new three-screen cinema is set to open in February or March 2027 following a major refurbishment of its Fishergate premises.

The new cinema will occupy a 10,000 sq ft building and offer the latest film releases, independent films and live screenings from the National Theatre and Royal Opera House.

The project is being led by business partners John Tate and John Hewitt, who are also behind successful cinemas in Ilkley and Wetherby.

The pair had originally hoped to open the venue before Christmas, but refurbishment work has pushed the opening back to early next year.

John Tate said:

“We had originally intended to have a pre-Christmas opening, but as is often the case with large reconfiguration and refurbishment works of this nature, there have been a couple of issues that we needed to resolve.

“We are now on schedule for an opening in early 2027 and are looking forward to welcoming filmgoers from Ripon and neighbouring towns and villages, to come and experience the wow factor of watching the latest releases and screenings from the National Theatre and Royal Opera House in the sumptuous surroundings that we are creating in Fishergate.”

Ripon Cinema will have a combined capacity of 157 seats across its three screens, with plans for between eight and ten screenings each day.
Screenings are expected to run between 10.30am and 8pm, catering for audiences of all ages.

The venue will also feature a luxury lounge area where visitors can enjoy food and drinks before or after their film.

At four times the size of Ilkley Cinema, the new venue represents a significant expansion for the two operators.

John Tate and John Hewitt opened Ilkley Film Theatre in 2015, bringing cinema back to the town. The venue went on to win Cinema of the Year at the Big Screen Awards in 2022.

They also acquired Wetherby's historic Caxton Street cinema in 2018, adding an additional screen and refurbishing its lounge area

The pair are now hoping to replicate that success in Ripon, with the new cinema expected to provide a boost to the city's economy.

John said:

“We have been extremely encouraged by the warm welcome our plans have received in this wonderful and historic city and we hope that the cinema’s opening will provide a boost to the local economy.”

Ripon BID has also welcomed the development, highlighting the potential benefits for surrounding businesses.

Ripon BID Manager Lilla Bathurst said:

“In common with local residents, our members across all business sectors in the city have wanted this development to go ahead from the moment that John Tate and John Hewitt unveiled their plans.

“The investment by two seasoned and award-winning cinema operators is a further sign of the confidence that investors like them and Sterne Properties Limited have in our magnificent Cathedral City of the Dales, whose post-covid recovery puts us high on the list of UK locations where independent businesses want to be and, importantly, places where people want to visit.”

Memberships and gift vouchers are already available to purchase through the Ripon Cinema website.

Customers can also sign up for newsletters to receive updates on the refurbishment, the official opening date and when tickets will go on sale.

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