It has been reported that a 100-year old picture house is to close due to its neighbouring bingo club closing down. Even though the cinema has seen admissions double over recent years the property owners have decided to reclaim the building in order to redevelop the site.

Landlords Graves (Cumberland) Ltd have now made the decision adding it comes with “sincere regret” and blaming it on the cinema’s neighbouring bingo hall. It claimed the bingo club which it owns had sustained losses over the years.

They added to ensure the property remained a viable business rental opportunity; the cinema would also close in March 2011.

Lonsdale Cinema boss Alan Towers had wanted to keep going, but says his landlords have other ideas for the building and described it as “very sad”. Manager, Darren Horne, added: “People are far more angry than I thought they would be.

“I knew people would be sad, but there’s a real sense of anger in the community. They are very supportive of the cinema and its staff.

“The staff do a great job and have built up personal relationships in Penrith. We get stopped in the street by people asking what’s on at the cinema. It is those connections that have made the impact feel so harshly felt.

“It is wonderful that so many people support us and makes the staff feel better.”

A Facebook petition with the support of more than 1,000 people suggests alternative sites, however, Alan Towers, who also owns two other cinemas, added that alternative sites would have to be available without costing an “awful lot”

He had originally agreed a 10-year lease on the building five years ago, but it had a five-year break clause in which either party could walk away and Graves have decided to exercise the break clause.