Lighthouse Cinema Closing

Raekwon

Cinema falls victim to Ireland's greedy landlord culture...

John Flynn, the landlord of Dublin's LIGHTHOUSE cinema, has issued a wind-up petition against 'Light House Cinema Exhibition and Distribution Company Limited', resulting from a rent dispute on the Smithfield premises.
The cinema is operated by Neil Connolly and Maretta Dillon, who ran the original two-screen Lighthouse Cinema on Middle Abbey Street until it closed in the mid ‘90s.

The cinema board are meeting today "to decide what action it is to take" ahead of a High Court hearing of a petition to wind up the company. According to The Irish Times, the landlord doubled the yearly rent from €100,000 to €200,000 last summer. The directors have withheld a portion of the rent charged.

The cinema remains open and is currently showing Animal Kingdom, Route Irish, Submarine & Fair Game.

Setun

An awful shame - very comfortable cinema, beautifully designed, and a reasonable programme too. It's primary downfall is its location though - it's just out of the way enough to discourage people from watching a movie there when the IFI is located conveniently in Templebar.

Galvasean

Lovely cinema, but as Daddio says, it's just a little too far out of the way generally speaking.

delbertgrady

:eek: and

I heard they were in trouble a few months ago, but I was hoping that the excellent business done there by His & Hers and Of Gods and Men would help keep it afloat. A real shame.
I much prefer it to the IFI and the location has never been a problem for me, though I admit some people would be more inclined to opt to see something in the IFI or the Screen if they didn't fancy a trek up the quays.

Setun

Galvasean wrote: »

Lovely cinema, but as Daddio says, it's just a little too far out of the way generally speaking.

Especially when on the way through Smithfield you get a gang of street urchins kicking footballs at you :P

johnny_ultimate

Yep not closed yet but not looking good.

Can only echo that it was a nice cinema but like anything in Smithfield (bar horse markets ahem) was too out of the way to be as successful as they wanted it to be. Would always pick the IFI as not only was it nearer but cheaper as well.

Unfortunately there's already a few 'arthouse' cinemas in town and the disadvantages faced by the Lighthouse did it no favours. But it is certainly the most pleasantly designed cinema in town, and sad that it didn't succeed. Last time I was down there - one Saturday night during the film fest - it seemed packed, but that might have just been because of the festival. Oh well, sad to see it go in any case

Galvasean

Any time I've been there and there was no festival on it was a bit of a ghost town TBH.

johnny_ultimate

Galvasean wrote: »

Any time I've been there and there was no festival on it was a bit of a ghost town TBH.

Whenever I went during the day it was dead, way too out of the way for me to go regularly at night when the IFI is right near my bus-stop.

I guess the IFI can afford to show obscure stuff as funding means they are at least somewhat supported. But a fully commercial arthouse cinema of Lighthouse's size was always a risky endeavour.

Setun

Yeah when I think back to the films I saw there (which was a few considering the gf lived in the general area for almost a year) I just remember it being very empty - averaging perhaps at 5 or 6 people sharing a screen! Awful shame if it does go though.

bullpost

Always meant to check it out but never got round to it. Location was just off putting.
I suspect there are a lot more like me and that's the reason its closing.

A shame all the same.

Galvasean wrote: »

Any time I've been there and there was no festival on it was a bit of a ghost town TBH.

mikhail

I really like it as a cinema - comfortable seats, plenty of leg room, a crowd low on scobes checking their text messages. I don't mind the location either, but it is a little harder to get folks to head there. I had a feeling it mightn't last - scobes checking their text messages are a key "paying the rent" demographic, but not like this - rent doubling in this market? It's stupid. I'm surprised they didn't have a longer lease.

delbertgrady

Daddio wrote: »

Yeah when I think back to the films I saw there (which was a few considering the gf lived in the general area for almost a year) I just remember it being very empty - averaging perhaps at 5 or 6 people sharing a screen! Awful shame if it does go though.

Most things I saw there in the evenings had a decent crowd. I can never remember anything being embarrassingly slack, unless it was in its final week, and even then, you'd get people going on the basis that it was their last chance to see something. I'd say they were doing okay with the initial rent, but the doubling of it probably makes their takings target totally unreachable.
It's also the only cinema I've ever been in (including the IFI and the Screen) where I've never encountered any audience problems - talking, checking phones, etc.
They must have had the most well-behaved patrons in the city.

Sad Professor

Sad to hear this. I've only been in it a few times but it's a very nice cinema indeed.

Air_Bass

Sad news indeed.
Ditto on all points raised earlier - nice atmosphere, good coffee-shop area, well behaved punters, no scobies.
Aside from the greedy landlord, a big problem was just that it was located in Smithfield. The area just never took off the way folks thought it would. I walked through there on the way to the Dice Bar a couple of weekends ago and the area is a freakin' ghost town - empty retail units, scobies drinking cans of dutch' outside centra (the only establishment that seemed to be open!) and a general unwelcoming vibe about the whole square.

Raekwon

The first film that I saw their was the boxing documentary saviours back in 2008 and the last time I was there was last Friday night to see the excellent Animal Kingdom, so I'm quite a regular visitor even though I don't live close to the area.

In saying that the location would be a major issue for alot of people, even though it is on the LUAS red line. It is a beautiful little cinema though and I will personally miss it alot when it's gone

On a side note I have to say that the landlords are incredibly short sighted though. They already have a property rented at €100k per year in an area with around 80% of shop units empty so when the Lighthouse goes who do they think will come in and fork out an astronomical €200,000 per year for their property?

opr

That whole area seems to be dying and not just the cinema. Walked up by it yesterday to check what was on and loads of shops, pubs and other business all seemed to be shut up.

Opr

chris_d

Raekwon wrote: »

who do they think will come in and fork out an astronomical €200,000 per year for their property?

NAMA?

nicest cinema in dublin by a distance.

johnny_ultimate

Unfortunately these aren't the only landlords to make such absurd demands these days. I'd say it would be worrying to find out how many places had to shut down because of increasing rents.

You'd really think landlords would have a bit of ****ing cop on about things like that. But no. The almighty euro remains the most important element, no matter how many jobs are lost in the process. To be perfectly honest, can't see anyone else willing to pay the absurdly high rent demands on the property so can see it going the same way as all the other failed Smithfield properties. You'd imagine they'd be happy with whatever sizable rent they're getting given it's unlikely we'll see anyone taking over the property. Alongside the newsagents and apartments, it seemed to be the only Smithfield endeavour enjoying any hint of success. Not enough, apparently.

Raekwon

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

Unfortunately these aren't the only landlords to make such absurd demands these days. I'd say it would be worrying to find out how many places had to shut down because of increasing rents.

You'd really think landlords would have a bit of ****ing cop on about things like that. But no. The almighty euro remains the most important element, no matter how many jobs are lost in the process. To be perfectly honest, can't see anyone else willing to pay the absurdly high rent demands on the property so can see it going the same way as all the other failed Smithfield properties. You'd imagine they'd be happy with whatever sizable rent they're getting given it's unlikely we'll see anyone taking over the property. Alongside the newsagents and apartments, it seemed to be the only Smithfield endeavour enjoying any hint of success. Not enough, apparently.

+1

Yeah that's exactly what I mean. The landlords are sitting on a guaranteed €100k per year in an area of the city that is pretty much deserted of any other retail activity yet they are willing to throw that away in the very slim chance that they can double their money

Cazale

What a shame but I suppose its not that surprising either given the location. Idiot landlords.

Renn

How many times have you guys actually gone there? I went once for a festival and one other time when it was pretty quiet for a Saturday night. Location put me off going there which is kinda silly.

dub45

So you would need 10,000 customers @ €10 a head just to pay the current rent per year (More actually allowing for vat etc). So roughly the first 200 or so customers ever week pay the rent.

There must be a lot of overheads too - such a big building must cost a lot to heat -. Add in staff, hire of films, insurance, esb, publicity, maintenance etc
and I cant imagine them making any money even on the current rent.

And in a recession they go and double the rent?

Cant imagine that there is a queue of prospective tenants waiting to pay 200,000 euros pa to get in there.

OutlawPete

Galvasean wrote: »

Any time I've been there and there was no festival on it was a bit of a ghost town TBH.

Yeah, I go there twice a week on average and it's always so quiet- but to be honest, that's why I tend to go there. Love watching films there and almost having a screen to myself.

Seen Exit Through The Gift Shop in a screen all to myself for instance. Very sad after all the hard work it took getting it back open. I'm old enough to remember the old Lighthouse Cinema on Abbey St and so it always had that extra fondness for it despite the new location.

northsider2010

I am sorry to hear that the Lighthouse is in trouble - always enjoy going to see films there and like the cinema and choice of films. Easy enough to get to on the Luas.

Galvasean

Raekwon wrote: »

+1

Yeah that's exactly what I mean. The landlords are sitting on a guaranteed €100k per year in an area of the city that is pretty much deserted of any other retail activity yet they are willing to throw that away in the very slim chance that they can double their money

Maybe they are trying to oust all the smaller business with a view to build a lucrative mega-mall or something?
[/speculation]

OutlawPete

Well, when a crowd acts like this when they see all the films on show are subtitled, what can we really expect ..

Phony Scott

I enjoy the architecture of the cinema, oddly it reminds me of something Stanley Kubrick might design. You expect to be attacked by droog's at any moment or be chased by Jack Nicholson with an axe. How appropriate that they held a Kubrick exhibition there two years ago.

The less appreciative part of me thinks; so minimalist, what a huge waste of space and money. Considering the location and the choice to show mostly arthouse films, I'm not surprised it's going under, but it's always upsetting to see a cinema closing.

Decuc500

I go there quite a lot and have recently noticed that the evening screenings were packed, so I thought it was doing quite well.

Some cultural city we live in. Cinemas in trouble, bookshops closing.....

snickerpuss

If it does close I can't imagine who the landlord thinks he can get to move in there instead.
Usually if something I want to see is on the Lighthouse, I'll specifically go there to see it. Lovely space.

jaykhunter

that's really horrible to hear. I best get down there and see another film before it shuts

ching9000

I live in Smithfield Market, and my girlfriend and I attend the cinema fairly regularly, a couple times a week on average. Not sure what everyone is saying, but we always find it quite busy, granted we only go at peak times (evenings, weekends). Also, I guess its never as busy as cineworld up the road, but I hate that place.

Insofar as the location, well, there are a huge amount of apartments in the wider area (not just Smithfield Market), that are primary populated with young professionals. So, I'm not sure its 'out of the way', its on the luas line and 10 mins walks from Temple Bar. :rolleyes:

I hope that they manage to reach an agreement, its the best cinema in Dublin IMO, and not just because it is a 2 minute from our apartment... :pac:

MadsL

Agreed - can't believe all these comments about 'out of the way'.
It's right next to a Luas stop and the Quays ffs, just happens to be on the scary northside!

Anyone know why John Flynn needs to increase rent - is he NAMA'd??


*google*
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2010/0604/1224271816146.html

John Flynn

A regular partner with developer Paddy Kelly in deals

Paddy Kelly is completely bust, so Flynn is effectively in partnership with NAMA.

I wonder is NAMA putting pressure on him - maybe the headline "John Flynn increases rent" is NAMA spin. Anyone?

Renn

Oh I know it's only 10 mins from the centre etc...but it's the area that puts me off

bogmanfan

Beautiful cinema, but too far away from the city centre. Also, they never seem to have their listings in the papers, so always forget to check and see what's on.
When I lived in the states there was a thriving business for so-called 'second run' cinemas which only show older or classic films, and are really cheap to get into. Any time I've been to see classic films in the IFI (Some Like it Hot, North by Northwest, Psycho etc) they've been packed to the rafters. Charge €5 to see films like these, and you would get an audience I reckon.

johnny_ultimate

It most certainly is out of the way for anyone living off the Luas line or outside the city centre. I live on the Southside, and when going to the cinema in the evening it's always a bit of a legger for the bus / last train. Hence it makes sense to stick around the city centre since the fifteen / twenty minutes to get back to town can be the difference between getting home and not.

Actually, that's no longer strictly true, because the bus has recently started going to Heuston Station and hence stops along the quays near the Lighthouse. But before that it was always significantly out of the way, and considering the IFI or Screen the vast majority of the time have the same films showing it was always more practical to go there. And honestly with IFI membership it was always more cost effective to go there instead of trekking down to Smithfield.

Don't get me wrong, I love the layout of the cinema, it is probably the nicest, most comfortable in town. And a lot of the time their timetable kept films on longer than the other ones in town, which was great when you missed a film during its often brief IFI run. It genuinely wasn't laziness that prevented me going as much as I would have liked - it was most certainly that little bit more out of the way than other cinemas, and I'm clearly not alone in that opinion.

Also, y'know, Smithfield

Decuc500

There's definitely more the Lighthouse can do to get more customers like showing classic films or getting one of the big festivals that the IFI shows ie the French Film Festival.

However, reading about the current difficulty, it appears that the cinema has been doing quite well recently and turning a profit so getting the punters in isn't the issue here.

johnny_ultimate

The classic screenings in the Screen and the IFI have clearly been rather favourable alright, but I think you hit the nail on the head that it mightn't be a lack of success that has caused this situation.

How in the name of hell is the country meant to get back on its feet when everyone who tries to run a viable business is driven out by greedy landlords?

Phoenix Park

This is a real shame, i'm only 10 mins away from it by car, its MUCH nicer than your average Cineworld-style cinema. The place is enormous in size considering it only has a few screens, which may make it more comfortable for cinema-goers, but makes the rent more expensive than otherwise it may be.
Something will have to be done about rents/leases in Dublin for businesses. Its just crippling, and i know a few places now that would be viable businesses (providing employment too) if the rents hadn't been so enormous.

twibbles

I used to go to the Lighthouse quite frequently when I lived in the area - up to August 2010. I found that it used to be quite empty at times and thought that it would be forced to close eventually. From what other posters have been saying business seems to have picked up though which is great. However, it looks as if this scandalous demand for a doubling of rent is the final nail in the coffin. By the way, one great advantage of the Lighthouse is that mobile phones don't work in the cinemas. Presumbably as it's mainly underground!

There was a pizza/pasta restaurant next door also and that has closed down recently as well. I wonder what the story was there? It was reasonable and the food was good. And there are lots of empty premises in the area. I hear that the Sin É bar (on the quays and not too far from the Lighthouse) will be closing/has closed its doors as well due to high rents also. Total Fitness closed all 3 Dublin gyms recently as well citing high rent and an unwillingness of the landlord to negotiate as a reason. So, unrealistically high rents seem to be killing businesses all over. Something really needs to be done to address this.

It's not very likely that the landlord will be able to attract another tenant either. It just seems nuts to me.

Sundew

I'm sorry to hear this but must admit that I've never visited.......I'm only 5 mins on the bus, have meant to several times but just never got around to it.

I must say as somebody who regularly picks up info in town to whats going on I rarely see references to this cinema! I tend to stick to The Screen and IFI!

ching9000

twibbles wrote: »

There was a pizza/pasta restaurant next door also and that has closed down recently as well. I wonder what the story was there?.

Yeah, I was wondering what happened there too. It was doing quite well as far as I could see. Perhaps a similar fate?

On a positive note; Sin e has re-opened! It only closed down for a few weeks, maybe they successfully re-negotiated the lease aggrement, who knows what goes on behind the scenes... :rolleyes:

Re the cinema: Should I write a letter to someone? Maureen O'Sullivan maybe... Not that I think it will a bind bit of difference, but someone has to say something while they destroy our quality of life - all in the name of NAMA. A bit of "joined up thinking" (to quote a truly Irish political term) wouldn't go amiss me thinks.

fransdev

This is really sad news I believe a petition to keep it open is called for to support the owners and not in the last place to stop Smithfield go more down under as it already is, and it is not so far out of the city and there is a Luas stop, they could get a combination ticket with the Luas to attract more people.

MadsL

fransdev wrote: »

On a positive note; Sin e has re-opened! It only closed down for a few weeks, maybe they successfully re-negotiated the lease aggrement, who knows what goes on behind the scenes...

New owner. Claims he'll keep the vibe...

3301nicky

A lot of people love this cinema and don't want to see it close. It may not have had as high a profile as it should have but that doesn't mean it isn't one of the best places in Dublin.

We have set up a group on Facebook:

Save the Light House Cinema in Smithfield!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_196983150336570&ap=1

ManwitaPlan

3301nicky wrote: »

A lot of people love this cinema and don't want to see it close. It may not have had as high a profile as it should have but that doesn't mean it isn't one of the best places in Dublin.

We have set up a group on Facebook:

Save the Light House Cinema in Smithfield!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_196983150336570&ap=1

Was so excited when I heard this was opening but Ive only been there once.

Its a great cinema in terms of design..really liked it but we were the only two people the evening we went.

Yes the location is inconvenient but I dont think thats the issue here....lets be honest, their programme is pretty poor...I would pretty much look up the website weekly and I have never seen anything on that I would feel obliged to make the effort to go there.

It is a shame because its a lovely cinema but their programme was very dull most of the time and offered very little...compare that with somewhere like the IFC which I think gets the mix spot on and almost always has something of interest showing and its no wonder it has'nt worked out.

conorhal

ManwitaPlan wrote: »

Was so excited when I heard this was opening but Ive only been there once.

Its a great cinema in terms of design..really liked it but we were the only two people the evening we went.

Yes the location is inconvenient but I dont think thats the issue here....lets be honest, their programme is pretty poor...I would pretty much look up the website weekly and I have never seen anything on that I would feel obliged to make the effort to go there.

It is a shame because its a lovely cinema but their programme was very dull most of the time and offered very little...compare that with somewhere like the IFC which I think gets the mix spot on and almost always has something of interest showing and its no wonder it has'nt worked out.

I'd tend to agree with this, I've only seen three films there and whenever I look up their program it's usually a list of uninspired 'granola films' or kitchen sink drama. The IFI better understands how to draw a crowd and there's a buzz about the place. The lighthouse in contrast is feels rather sterile.
I dislike it's modernist/functionalist design. It has no atmosphere and all the charm of a multi story car park.
I like my cinema's to be baroque, red satin draped affairs, to feel like a church at which worship cinema.
I don't think the location is a major problem, it's like a 15 minute walk from town, but the location certiantly doesn't help. The area is just dead.

Galvasean

3301nicky wrote: »

A lot of people love this cinema and don't want to see it close. It may not have had as high a profile as it should have but that doesn't mean it isn't one of the best places in Dublin.

We have set up a group on Facebook:

Save the Light House Cinema in Smithfield!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_196983150336570&ap=1

Joined

Sad Professor

Article about the closing in today's IT. It seems the Arts Council and IFB may step into save it. Otherwise it'll owe the state up to 1.75 million in grants.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0326/1224293135901.html

johnny_ultimate

You know, state intervention could actually have a relatively favourable outcome for us cinema goers. Another arthouse cinema complex like the IFI would probably have more freedom than the troublesome nature of the Lighthouse as is as a commercial semi-arthouse cinema.

Obviously, I still want the owners to sort these issues out and get back on track, but I must say that Times article has intrigued me about potential outcomes going forward.

DeanSmedley

From what I understand, the problem is not the amount of customers they get. The problem is that the Landlord is trying to double the rent from €100,000 to €200,000 per annum.

And I have been there several times when it was busy (the weekend), although I take some of the previous points, that it tends to be quiet during the week.

Raekwon

DeanSmedley wrote: »

From what I understand, the problem is not the amount of customers they get. The problem is that the Landlord is trying to double the rent from €100,000 to €200,000 per annum.

The rent had already been doubled last summer and that's why the cinema is struggling now.