OSWESTRY’S Kinokulture is set for its final swan song next week ahead of its closure, its owners have confirmed.

The independent cinema, based in Arthur Street, will close its doors after its lease runs out on Wednesday, April 24; the morning after its final showing.

Ruth Carter and Ian Garland set up the cinema more than a decade ago and have provided the town with a cinema despite issues around Covid-19 and the cost of living crisis, among others.

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And with the pair set to retire, Ruth admitted they have run out of options, despite the best efforts of a number of people, to keep it open.

“Having set up and run Kinokulture cinema for the past 14 years, Ian and I always intended to retire from running it on a day to day basis when the current lease expires on April 24,” Ruth said.

“However, we were keenly aware that the closure of it would be a great loss to Oswestry and never wanted this to happen.

“Over the past year, we have been working hard to hand it over to community ownership so that a new group could renew the lease on the building and continue to provide cinema in Oswestry.

“All was going to plan until a month ago when the group who we were working with decided they could not commit.

“We are desperately sorry about this turn of events as we know what the loss means to our wonderful volunteers and customers.”

Ruth added that she and Ian were always blown away by the support received in Oswestry and said their patrons would be missed.

She added: “We would like to thank everyone who has supported the cinema over the years and it has been a great privilege for us to have brought so many films to our audiences within Oswestry and from further afield.

“We will miss you all.”

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Meanwhile, Oswestry Film Society, which had been using Kinokulture as a base, will bid its own farewell to the building with a small drinks reception after showing its final film tonight (Tuesday, APril 16) with free fizz.

The society has confirmed it is moving to Hermon Chapel Arts Centre, in Chapel Street, and will keep showing films twice a month to regulars and newcomers.

For more about the film society, head to www.oswestryfilmsociety.com