Cineworld to leave world's tallest cinema in Glasgow next month as staff face redundancy

Cineworld has confirmed that it is to leave its home in the world’s tallest cinema complex next month.

The cinema giant informed employees by email that the cinema will close on September 28, and that the owners of the Renfrew Street building will take the property back at the end of October.

An email sent to staff, seen by STV News, confirmed that a consultation process on jobs is due to begin.

A Starbucks branch inside the building is also affected.

Cineworld was informed last month that the building landlord intended to take the site back.

Clydebankbridge Ltd purchased the site for £7m in May of this year. The company is owned by Omniplex, an Irish cinema group which took over five Empire sites in 2023 – including one in Clydebank.

It is understood Cineworld was leasing the building for more than £1m, according to title documents seen by STV News.

The lease on the building was due to run until 2036.

‘Cineworld has forgotten about us’

James, who has worked at the branch for over two years, told STV News that the company had “forgotten” about its staff and the cinema’s equipment.

“We’ve had countless potential closures over the years I’ve worked there”, he said. “It’s no surprise to any of us.

“Cineworld as a company have forgotten about us in the past few years, old equipment and broken screens that needed updating to compete with competitors.

“They’ve known for a long time that we were going to be shut down.

“This is clear, as the Silverburn location recently got upgrades, but our site saw no change. Our location has only been paying 10% of the building’s rent per month, so it was no surprise that the landlord sold it to Omniplex.

“It’s a case of payback.”

Cineworld said that Cineworld Silverburn would be undergoing “its most ambitious transformation yet” following the Renfrew Street closure.

A statement added: “As we say goodbye to Renfrew Street, Cineworld Silverburn is undergoing its most ambitious transformation yet – with major investment bringing a 4DX screen and a full upgrade of every 2D auditorium to luxury recliner seating.

“We can’t wait for you to experience the new Cineworld Silverburn, for the most superior entertainment experience in Glasgow.”

Administration

Opened in September 2001, the UGC Cinema stands at 62m tall, has 18 screens across 12 storeys and can seat more than 4,200 people, and is known as the world’s tallest cinema complex.

After entering administration in 2023, Cineworld announced the closure of six cinemas in a major company restructure.

It closed sites at Glasgow Parkhead, Bedford, Hinckley, Loughborough, Yate and Swindon Circus.

Cineworld operates eight cinemas in Scotland with three locations in Glasgow, two in Aberdeen and sites in Dundee, Falkirk and Edinburgh.

An email staff outlined: “We will close the cinema on or around Sunday, September 28, 2025, and a handover with the landlord will take place on October 31, 2025.

“Please be assured that you will continue to be paid as normal until any redundancies are confirmed.

The email also confirmed that a consultation process is beginning.

It added: “We will now be entering a period of conclusion with you. This will involve a collection consultation with elected employee representatives, and there will also be an opportunity for you to have individual consultation meetings.

“The purpose of this consultation is to provide you with the opportunity to discuss any alternative you see which avoids your redundancy.

“Where we can redeploy other people to other local cinemas rather than have to make redundancies, we will do so, and this will be covered in the consultation.

“Current ongoing secondments will continue until the point any redundancies are confirmed.”