Gainsborough's Savoy Cinema celebrates first anniversary

Since opening on July 18, 2025, the cinema has welcomed 96,874 visitors through its doors and has become a popular destination for residents and visitors, bringing the latest films, live event screenings and accessible cinema experiences to the town without the need to travel further afield.

Located overlooking the Market Place, Savoy Cinema Gainsborough features fully electric recliner seating across four screens, including Vertex 4K laser projection and Dolby Atmos sound in screen one, offering audiences a premium cinema experience in the centre of town.

The cinema forms a key part of the wider Thriving Gainsborough programme and has helped support the ongoing regeneration of the town centre. The development also introduced a new pedestrian link connecting Marshall’s Yard with the historic Market Place, improving access and helping to strengthen connections across the town centre.

Its busiest films during the first year included major family favourites and blockbuster releases, with Toy Story 5 attracting 6,093 admissions, followed by Michael with 5,068, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie with 4,207, Zootropolis 2 with 3,753 and Wicked: For Good with 3,234.

The project has played an important role in bringing a commercial cinema back to Gainsborough, supporting the town’s cultural offer, evening economy and visitor appeal.

Sally Grindrod-Smith, director of Planning, Regeneration and Communities at West Lindsey District Council, said: “Savoy Cinema Gainsborough has quickly become an important part of the town centre, giving residents and visitors a modern, high-quality leisure destination right in the heart of Gainsborough. Its first anniversary is a real milestone, not only for the cinema but for the wider regeneration of the town.

“The venue is helping to bring more people into the Market Place, supporting the evening economy and strengthening the links between key parts of the town centre. We are delighted to see the positive impact it has made during its first year and look forward to seeing it continue to thrive.”

Over the past year, audiences have been able to enjoy a wide range of screenings, from major Hollywood releases and family films to theatre, opera, ballet and concerts streamed from venues around the world. The cinema also offers regular subtitled showings, discounted Kids Club screenings and Silver Screen Club sessions for guests over 50.

The venue has also served thousands of cinema treats during its first year, including 24,590 portions of popcorn, 12,030 Tango Ice Blasts, 7,316 hot drinks, 4,803 alcoholic drinks, 3,414 Pick N Mix selections and 2,201 ice creams.

Among the popcorn sold, sweet proved the clear favourite, with 13,636 sweet portions compared with 5,496 salted and 4,469 mixed. For every salted popcorn sold, the cinema sold around 2.48 sweet portions, and roughly two soft drinks were sold for every popcorn.

Brad Dewsnap, manager of Savoy Cinema Gainsborough, said: “It has been fantastic to see how warmly people have welcomed Savoy Cinema Gainsborough during our first year. To have welcomed almost 97,000 visitors is a brilliant achievement and shows just how much demand there is for a modern cinema experience in the town.

“From family films and blockbusters to live event cinema and special screenings, we have loved giving audiences a reason to come together and enjoy the big-screen experience locally.

“I am incredibly proud of the team and grateful to everyone who has supported us in our first year. We are excited to build on this success and welcome even more people through our doors in the year ahead.”

The first anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on the cinema’s impact in its first year and to celebrate its role as a modern leisure destination for Gainsborough and the surrounding area.

Residents and visitors can find the latest film listings, event cinema screenings and booking information through Savoy Cinema Gainsborough’s website and social media channels.