Darwin’s five-cinema complex on Mitchell St to close its doors this month

DARWIN’S five-cinema complex on Mitchell St will close this month in yet another blow for the city’s beleaguered CBD

The Darwin City BCC cinema complex will shut down for good next month because it has not been performing to expectations . Picture: Michael Franchi

DARWIN’S five-cinema complex in the city will close this month.

Big Screen Advertising has notified its clients that Birch Carroll & Coyle has advised it is closing its Darwin City cinema complex on November 21.

The closure will not affect the Casuarina and Palmerston cinema complexes in any way.

The future of the Darwin cinema complex became a concern when iconic Darwin eatery and bar Ducks Nuts next door closed last year.

Ducks Nuts was owned by Event Hospitalities and Entertainment, the company which also owns the Birch, Carroll & Coyle Cinemas.

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Event Hospitalities and Entertainment also owns Rydges Hotels and there has been speculation that the company has the prime city site earmarked for a 4- to 5-star hotel.

The NT News was unable to get a response from Event Hospitalities and Entertainment in Sydney on Monday.

Chamber of Commerce NT chief executive Greg Bicknell said the closure of the cinema complex was a blow to the Darwin CBD.

“Every CBD you go to around Australia, the world for that matter, the cinema is a key part of it … it draws people in,” Mr Bicknell said.

“If you look at the Cities Deal and the CDU plans and having younger people in the CBD, a cinema is part and parcel of the entertainment alternatives.

“A cinema complex is part of the fabric of our city. I am surprised it can’t get the patrons to sustain it.”

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However, Event Hospitalities and Entertainment had announced that the total Australian box office for the year finished 4.7 per cent below the prior year and underperforming cinemas such as Darwin City and Cairns would be closed.

The company also pointed out that during the past financial year it opened four new cinemas, which included one Vmax and five traditional screens at Palmerston.

Event Hospitalities and Entertainment said the Palmerston cinema is trading in line with initial expectations.

Last week, the company also announced the sale of its German cinema business CineStar to British cinema chain Vue for up to $358.5 million.

It followed a strategic review of the company which said that capital from its sale could be better used on other growth projects.