Lease signed and staffing interest for Rhyl cinema

Lease arrangements have been completed to allow Merlin Cinemas to enter the final reel for breathing new life into Rhyl’s Strand Cinema.

Denbighshire County Council and Merlin finalised agreements this week to officially hand over the cinema on the prom.

A recent recruitment day held by Merlin at the Scala Cinema for those interested in careers at the new Strand cinema at Rhyl saw 89 people attend the day, with 28 progressing to one-to-one interviews.

From these 16 candidates, most residing in Rhyl and a few from Prestatyn, St Asaph, and Dyserth, were offered positions, successfully filling all the general assistant roles needed for Strand’s grand opening.

The next step will be to invite those who accept their offers to a training programme at Scala Cinema in Prestatyn, scheduled a couple of weeks before Strand opens.

Strand Cinema Rhyl will operate alongside its sister cinema in Prestatyn, Scala Cinema, which is already part of the Merlin Cinemas group of independent cinemas.

Leader of Denbighshire County Council, Councillor Jason McLellan said, “This is exciting news to hear the lease has been signed and sealed to allow for the curtains to raise on films once again at this important venue for Rhyl.

Hot on the heels of the huge success of the opening of Queen’s Market, this will be another attraction for residents and visitors alike and will be an important part of the catalyst for regeneration in our seaside town.

It’s also fantastic to hear how Merlin and the Strand have helped local people find local work opportunities at the cinema, and I hope they really embrace their roles in this exciting industry.

When Strand Cinema opens, I urge residents to come and check out films on the big screen, as well as supporting other leisure facilities in the town – we need everyone to be backing our businesses to ensure their continued success.”

Merlin Cinemas began its journey 35 years ago with a single screen in Penzance in Cornwall and now operates over 20 cinemas across the UK. Known for saving and restoring historic and modern venues alike, Merlin is committed to keeping cinema-going affordable, accessible, and magical for local communities.

Geoff Greaves Director of Merlin Cinemas said “We’re working with the local authority to get everything in place so that we can begin improvements to the town’s cinema which will be an ongoing process given the size and complexities of the building. We aim to have the cinema open before Christmas with a choice of the latest blockbusters, as well as older titles, with tickets starting from as little as £2.50. 

Seeing a film at the cinema with family or friends is a very different experience to watching the film at home. With the latest digital projection and sound, it is more memorable and offers a sense of occasion. With the additional availability of private hires and school screenings, we are pleased to have the opportunity to re-open this cinema for the people of Rhyl which I believe is a valuable social amenity.” 

Keep an eye on Merlin’s website and social media for updates about the Strand opening merlincinemas.co.uk