Huge cinema chain with 16 UK sites on brink of huge £55m change
Talks are believed to be at a "relatively advanced" stage, according to reports.
The sale of a huge cinema chain with 16 venues across the UK may now be a step closer, according to reports. Showcase Cinemas is an international chain of film theatres currently operating in the US, Brazil, Argentina, and Britain.
However, its owner Paramount put the UK cinemas up for sale last year as it looks to streamline its business following a merger with Skydance. The Times is now reporting that UK cinema and leisure operator The Light is closing in on a deal to purchase the movie houses. Reports suggest the UK cinema business could go for around £55million.
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The Light, which is owned by entrepreneur and investor Luke Johnson, already has a sizeable presence in the film theatre space, operating 13 cinema and leisure venues across Britain.
As well as showing the latest films, their sites also offer various leisure activities like bowling, darts, mini-golf, and karaoke.
The company has reportedly been looking closely at Showcase's estate in Britain, which includes a megaplex in the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent with 17 screens, as per the newspaper. If The Light took the venues on it would more than double the size of its estate of cinemas.
Such a deal would mark a further expansion, after the company bought out bowling alley chain All Star Lanes in 2025.
A number of other parties are said to have been involved in the negotiations surrounding the aquisition of Showcase's UK theatres, including Frasers Group.
The outlet notes that while there is no guarantee that a deal will be sewn up, discussions are believed to be at a relatively advanced stage.
A spokesperson for The Light told Screen Daily: “Some of the rumours appear to be a little premature,” though they didn't dismiss the story.
The outlet said sources it contacted expected the deal to be confirmed early next month. Showcase's cinemas outside of the UK are not affected.
The Times said they approached Luke Johnson, The Light and Frasers Group for comment, but they declined. Express.co.uk has approached Paramount for comment.
