Few see final shows as Welshpool cinema closes doors

The Pola Cinema in Welshpool, which opened in 1938, has been an attraction for couples and families for more than 75 years, but it has been forced to close because of competition from multiplexes.

And last night the problems faced by the Pola were illustrated when the final two showings, Fast and Furious 6 and The Big Wedding, were played largely to empty seats.

Almost every romance in the town is said to have blossomed among its seats, including that of the parents of owner Richard Thacker.

Mr Thacker welcomed only a small number of movie-goers to the final screenings, despite hopes that the queues of old would return for its final night.

He said: "We only had 12 in the night before so I wasn't expecting to go out with a bang. It was mainly family and close friends saying goodbye to what is a beautiful building and a venue full of memories.

"I am extremely sad, but there is not a lot more we can do. When you look at Shrewsbury and the multi-screen complex it has with restaurants surrounding it we have no chance.

"My fondest story from all is that my mum Nancy and dad Charlie met while they both worked here and that is something I will never forget." Taking up the story of how she met Richard's father, who died in 2004, Mrs Thacker said: "I was working as an usherette and Charlie was doing the reels.

"We fell in love and that's that. There really wasn't many courting couples who haven't been in this cinema."

Four jobs will be lost with the cinema's closure, but the Regent Cinema the family also runs in Newtown will not be affected.

Richard's son Simon, who runs the cinema alongside his father, said: "I am devastated at the Pola's closure, the history this place has in my family and Welshpool in general is incredible and I am so sad to see it go, but we had no other choice."