Cineworld grows market share

Cineworld captured a 25 per cent share of the UK cinema market during the opening half of the year, with higher admissions and ticket prices helping the group to grow its revenues.

The company – owner of the Picturehouse chain, which has a further 2 per cent market share – grew group revenues by 21.9 per cent in the six months to 30 June.

Cineworld said it is “on track” to take over the running of the giant Imax cinema screen at the Glasgow science centre during the second half of the year.

The company expects year-on-year growth to continue into the third quarter thanks to “weaker comparatives due to the impact of the London Olympics on scheduling last year”.

But the firm warned of a tougher end to the year due to comparisons with the “phenomenal success” of last year’s James Bond outing, Skyfall.

Cineworld hopes that titles such as The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and Hunger Games: Catching Fire will lure film-goers to the flicks in the run-up to Christmas.