The Light Cinemas

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THE LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LIMITED.
Company typeLimited Company
Industry Entertainment
GenreCinema, Films, Leisure, Restaurant, Bar
Founded2007
Founders
  • John Sullivan
  • Keith Pullinger
Headquarters London, England, UK [1]
Number of locations
13 Venues (2024)
Area served
United Kingdom
Key people
James Morris (Chief Executive)
ServicesCinema, Bowling, Climbing, Dining, Leisure, Membership, Mini Golf
Owner Luke Johnson (businessman)
Website https://www.thelight.co.uk

The Light Entertainment Group (stylised as The Light) is a British independent cinema and entertainment chain, offering a unique mix of film, leisure activities, and dining. With a focus on community engagement and shared experiences, The Light combines a premium cinema experience with a wide range of entertainment options under one roof.

Contents

Brand and Positioning

The Light differentiates itself by reimagining entertainment, blending cinema, leisure, and dining with interactive experiences in vibrant, community-focused spaces. Unlike conventional multiplexes, The Light is designed to be a hub for social gatherings, offering an inclusive environment that appeals to families, friends, and local communities. [2]

With a customer-first approach, The Light focuses on attentive service, diverse film content, exciting leisure activities, and high-quality food and drink, ensuring an exceptional entertainment experience for all guests. They are proud to champion accessible cinema with an emphasis on screenings featuring audio description, captions and subtitles, and that cater to the needs of those with Dementia, Autism, [3] and sensory sensitivity.

History

Founded in 2007 by former Cineworld director Keith Pullinger and former Warner Village Cinemas director John Sullivan, [2] The Light was established as an alternative to traditional multiplexes, emphasising a welcoming and customer-focused approach. The first UK location opened in New Brighton in 2011, [4] and as of 2024, the company operates 13 venues across the country, with plans for further expansion.

The cinema chain made national headlines in 2015, when they successfully raised the £5.2 million needed to purchase a nine-screen multiplex in Cambridge from rival company Cineworld. [2] The latter had been forced to sell the venue following a Competition Commission ruling. [5]

Expansion and Growth

In October 2024, The Light was acquired by hospitality entrepreneur Luke Johnson, who had worked with Pizza Express and Gail's. The acquisition was led by his firm Risk Partners Capital, alongside the investment company Melcorpo. The new owners announced a plan to invest more than £15 million in order to double the size of the business in the next three years. [6]

The Light has also operated in international markets, including Romania, Germany, and Saudi Arabia.

Future Locations

Plans to open a venue in Huddersfield got off the ground in January 2021, after developer WD Limited was loaned £7 million by Kirklees Council. [7] In October 2024, it was revealed that the opening date would be around Easter 2025. The Huddersfield venue is projected to be the largest venue in the chain, with six screens of around 150 seats [8] and a significant leisure offer.

Concept and Offering

The Light Bowling The Light Redhill Bowling.jpg
The Light Bowling

At its core, The Light is a cinema & entertainmentcompany, providing not only mainstream and independent films but also a variety of leisure experiences, including:

The circuit offers screenings of both mainstream and independent films in a luxurious yet accessible environment, ensuring high-quality presentation and comfort while maintaining affordable ticket prices. The venues are designed as entertainment hubs, incorporating a Kitchen & Bar that serves a diverse selection of food and drinks, making The Light a social destination beyond just film screenings. Many locations also feature additional entertainment facilities such as bowling, karaoke, climbing walls, and retro arcades, providing an all-in-one venue for leisure and socialising.

To enhance customer engagement, The Light offers a myLightPremiere membership, which allows subscribers to enjoy unlimited films and cinema trips for a flat monthly fee, alongside various loyalty incentives and exclusive promotions.

Community Engagement

The Light positions itself as more than just a cinema, integrating into local communities through partnerships, charity events, and bespoke entertainment offerings tailored to regional audiences. By adapting each venue’s entertainment mix to suit local preferences, The Light ensures a personalised and engaging experience for all visitors.

Customer Experience

The Light Redhill The Light Redhill Telephone Box.jpg
The Light Redhill

The brand is committed to delivering a fun, inclusive, and engaging experience, ensuring that every visitor feels welcomed and valued. Regular events and screenings cater to a broad audience, including:

The Light Cambridge is the only venue in The Light network to feature an IMAX screen, providing an immersive, cutting-edge viewing option for film lovers.

Programming

The Light offers a diverse and carefully curated film programme that appeals to a wide range of audiences. In addition to screening the latest blockbuster films, The Light is committed to showcasing family films, independent British and world cinema, arthouse selections, and documentaries.

The Light Auditorium The Light Redhill Auditorium.jpg
The Light Auditorium

Curated strands allow guests to navigate the diverse programme by interest, ensuring a tailored viewing experience. The programming also includes:

Each venue’s programme is tailored to reflect the preferences and interests of its local audience, ensuring a personalised and community-driven cinematic experience.

Future Outlook

The Light Redhill The Light Redhill Game On.jpg
The Light Redhill

With the evolving landscape of cinema and leisure, The Light continues to innovate, expanding its entertainment offerings and strengthening its presence as a leading destination for shared experiences. By combining high-quality cinema with diverse leisure activities, The Light is shaping the future of entertainment in the UK.

Locations

The Light is expanding its network of locations across the UK, each providing a distinctive mix of premium cinema and diverse leisure activities. With a focus on versatility and inclusivity, The Light continues to grow its presence, offering something for everyone at each unique venue.

The Light Venues
LocationScreensLeisure OfferDate OpenedAdditional Notes
Addlestone [9] 65 Oct 2018
Banbury [10] 7Bowling, Climbing Wall, Mini Golf, Karaoke, Interactive Darts, Shuffleboard, American Pool, Arcade10 Jun 2022
Bolton [11] 97 Oct 2016
Bradford [3] 611 May 2018
Cambridge [2] 930 Jan 2015Venue purchased from Cineworld
New Brighton [4] 82 Dec 2011
Redhill [12] 6Bowling, Climbing Wall, Axe-Throwing, Curling, Duckpin Bowling, Mini Golf, Karaoke, Interactive Darts, Shuffleboard, American Pool, Arcade16 Jun 2023
Sheffield [13] [14] 914 Apr 2017
Sittingbourne [15] 8Bowling, Interactive Darts, Shuffleboard, American Pool, Arcade28 May 2021
Stockport [16] 12Bowling, Interactive Darts, Karaoke, Shuffleboard, American Pool, Arcade24 Nov 2017
Thetford [17] 32 Dec 2016
Walsall [18] 818 Mar 2016
Wisbech [19] 823 May 2014

International Expansion

In Europe

The Light first expanded outside the UK before establishing its presence domestically. Its first venue opened in Bucharest, Romania, in 2008, followed by a second location in Halle, Germany, in 2009. [20] The company did not open a UK site until its New Brighton venue launched in 2011.

The Romanian division of the company ceased operations in 2015, [21] while the Halle cinema closed in July 2021 due to financial pressures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. [22]

In Saudi Arabia

In March 2019, The Light became one of the first companies awarded an operating licence to exhibit films in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This expansion was carried out in collaboration with London-based cinema consultancy firm The Big Picture—co-founded by John Sullivan and Keith Pullinger—and in partnership with FAHG, a Saudi Arabian fashion retail group led by Fawaz Alhokair. The Saudi venues operate under the brand name MUVI, marketed as the country’s first home-grown cinema chain, launching just a year after the Kingdom lifted its 35-year ban on cinemas. [23]

The move was met with controversy due to Saudi Arabia’s international reputation following the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. In response, Pullinger stated that the political ramifications were "for politicians to deal with" and highlighted Saudi Arabia as "the biggest opportunity for box office growth in the world." At the time, The Light was one of only five companies granted a Saudi government operating licence. [24]

By the end of 2021, MUVI Cinemas had expanded to 21 locations across Saudi Arabia and had invested in film distribution and production. [25]

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References

  1. ↑ "The Light Cinemas (Holdings) Limited overview". Companies House . Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Indie cinema chain to challenge UK's 'homogenous' giants". The Telegraph. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Popcorn at the ready: Here's when The Light cinema opens in Broadway". The Telegraph and Argus. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  4. 1 2 "New Brighton new cinema The Light gets RNLI-themed opening night". Liverpool Echo. 8 May 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  5. ↑ "Jobs saved as Cineworld sells its Cambridge branch to international chain The Light". Cambridgeshire Live. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  6. ↑ "Luke Johnson leads takeover of cinema operator The Light". The Independent. 10 October 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  7. ↑ "Kingsgate cinema plan WILL go ahead thanks to £7m Kirklees Council loan". Yorkshire Live. 11 January 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  8. ↑ "Inside Kingsgate Leisure as countdown begins to opening of The Light cinema and re-imagined entertainments venue". Huddersfield Hub. 28 October 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  9. ↑ "The Light Cinema in Addlestone opens its doors to the public". Surrey Live. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  10. ↑ "New cinema set to open in Banbury's town centre". Oxford Mail. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  11. ↑ "REVIEW: The Light Cinema opens at Bolton's Market Place Shopping Centre". The Bolton News. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  12. ↑ "The Light opens new cinema and entertainment venue in Redhill". The Business Magazine. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  13. ↑ "New cinema, The Light, opens on The Moor". Sheffield Live. 14 April 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  14. ↑ "Light Cinemas Sheffield". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  15. ↑ "Sittingbourne sees The Light as new cinema prepares to open". Kent Online. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  16. ↑ "Take a look around Stockport's brand new Redrock cinema". Manchester Evening News. 20 November 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  17. ↑ "A look behind the scenes at Thetford's new cinema". Eastern Daily Press. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  18. ↑ "Light Cinema to open in Walsall next month as part of £12 million development". Birmingham Live. 10 February 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  19. ↑ "Light Cinemas Wisbech". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  20. ↑ "Neptune hands over cinema for fit-out". Place North West. 13 June 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  21. ↑ "The Light Cinemas (Romania) Limited overview". Companies House. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  22. ↑ "Light Cinemas: Home". Light Cinemas. Archived from the original on 24 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  23. ↑ "UK Company, The Light Cinemas, in conjunction with The Big Picture, Is Awarded One of Few Operating Licenses in Saudi Arabia". Celluloid Junkie. 21 March 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  24. ↑ "UK indie multiplex chain The Light Cinemas to expand into Saudi Arabia". Screen Daily. 26 March 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  25. ↑ "Word of mouth is driving cinemagoing in Saudi, says Muvi Cinemas executive". Screen Daily. 10 December 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
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