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Cinema's plea for support after projector breaks

Chloe Aslett
BBC News, Yorkshire
Google Streetview image of the cinema. It is a small but grand-looking stone-built building. A large horizontal banner covers the middle third of the facade, and says "penistone paramount" in a stylised font. There are pride flags either side of the door.Google
Penistone Paramount was built in 1914 and started showing films the following year

An independent cinema where the projector broke down moments before a film was set to start has asked the community for support after it had to refund hundreds of tickets.

Staff at Penistone Paramount, in Penistone, were expecting a busy bank holiday weekend but business was derailed when a power supply component malfunctioned at Saturday evening's Mission: Impossible screening.

Manager Brian Barnsley said: "The audience was in, ready to enjoy Tom Cruise running and hanging off aircraft, but unfortunately, we had to cancel the show."

Although the 35mm projector was fixed on Tuesday, the lost earnings from the tickets and bar, plus the cost of the repair, had been "very significant".

In a statement, the cinema said the weekend had been "an absolute nightmare".

Mr Barnsley said takings had been down by 50% of the expected income.

Luckily, through a recommendation from a friend at Parkway Cinema in Barnsley, he tracked down the part he needed.

It was delivered from Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, more than 150 miles away (241km).

A man with a black top and "staff" written on the back. He is looking a large, black unit which has a silver pipe coming out of the top.
Mr Barnsley says the cinema's only projector was fixed on Tuesday

"It was lovely, people working together. That is what community cinema is all about," Mr Barnsley said.

The council-run, single-screen cinema was built in 1914 as an assembly hall and started showing films the following year.

"Now, more than ever, we really need the support of our local community in booking tickets to see films, live events and event cinema with us," a spokesperson for the venue said.

"All of you have been very understanding and supportive, and we are very grateful."

Customers affected by the breakdown of the projector should have been contacted, with their booking moved to another screening or tickets refunded, the spokesperson said.

Mr Barnsley said despite a few days of "bad luck", it had been a great year for the venue so far.

"Cinema has really picked up. There have been a lot of things to see – A Complete Unknown, Bridget Jones, and now Lilo and Stitch," he said.

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