PROPOSALS by Basildon Labour councillors to scrap a takeover deal for the empty town centre cinema have been slammed by a restaurant currently occupying the site.

On Thursday, the leader of the council’s Labour group pledged to “immediately break” a contract with new operator Vue Cinemas to take over the currently empty building if her party takes over the administration in May.

Maryam Yaqub, councillor for St Martin’s, insists her group would “repurpose” the building because a cinema on the site “just won’t work”.

It comes as the cinema building has stood empty for two years amid pandemic delays and the collapse of previous operator Empire Cinemas.

Echo: Half-full - Orleto Lounge is one of three restaurants currently open in the complex, which has room for three more venues.Half-full - Orleto Lounge is one of three restaurants currently open in the complex, which has room for three more venues. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

 

The complex cost Basildon Council £26.7million to build and consists of a cinema along with six food and drink venues. Three of those venues are currently occupied by Nando’s, Kaspa’s and Orleto Lounge.

Now, the owners of Orleto Lounge have spoken out against Mrs Yaqub’s pledge, saying the company is “extremely disappointed” by it.

A spokesman for Loungers PLC, which opened its Basildon lounge in February 2022, said: “Our investment into the town was with the hope and expectation that a new cinema would draw in more customers over the evenings and weekends.

“We’re extremely disappointed to hear talk of plans to scrap a deal for the development of the Vue cinema by Labour councillors.

“We hope they will reconsider  not only for the benefit of Orleto Lounge, but many other businesses in the area.”

 

Echo: Mrs Yaqub says Orleto Lounge is 'one of her favourite places' to visit in the town centre.Mrs Yaqub says Orleto Lounge is 'one of her favourite places' to visit in the town centre. (Image: Maryam Yaqub)

 

Mrs Yaqub said: “We obviously want all the businesses in those units to succeed.

“I personally spend a lot of time at Orleto Lounge. It’s one of my favourite places in the town centre.

“But Vue is a deal that is not good value for the taxpayer.

“Cinemas are going bust up and down the country. We could end up with a situation like Empire all over again.

“Our policy is we will repurpose that building. We want something to increase footfall in the town centre, that will obviously complement the other businesses there.

“A cinema just won’t work.”

Workmen were spotted at the cinema building on Friday afternoon, although it is not yet known when the building is due to open to customers.