In 2017, WTW Cinemas and Scott Cinemas merged to become WTW-Scott Cinemas. Sandie Caffelle talks to Director, Mark Williams, about the merger and how the future’s looking for the company, in...
A SPOTLIGHT ON...
WTW-Scott Cinemas, UK CT: When were WTW and Scott Cinemas formed?
high streets and town centres, with the cinemas ranging
WTW Cinemas was formed in 1945 with the purchase of
from one to seven screens (now including Bridgwater
The Capitol Theatre in St Austell. The founding members
Northgate.
were the father and grandfather of current owner, David
There have been many awards presented to both
Williams, who joined the business in 1966. David’s sons,
companies
Robert and Mark (myself), joined the company in 2000 and
Independent Cinema of The Year in 2006, the Central
2002, respectively.
Barnstaple winning the same award in 2008 and White
with
The
Plaza
Truro
winning
RAAM
Scott Cinemas was founded in the 1960s by Charles
River Cinema in St Austell repeating that success in 2011.
Scott, who at the time was the manager of the Alexandra
The technical team at The Plaza Truro was presented with
Cinema in Newton Abbot [Devon, England], with Peter
the Team of the Year Award in 2013 at the Dolby
Hoare becoming the owner in the 1980s. At the time Peter
Headquarters. David Williams was awarded an MBE for
became the owner there were four (mostly loss-making at
services to Regional Cinema in 2013, with Peter Hoare being
the time!) cinemas in Bridgwater, Dartmouth, Lyme Regis
given an Exhibition Achievement Award at the 2018 Screen
and Newton Abbot.
Awards. Peter was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to cinema in The Queen’s Birthday Honours List in
CT: What were your separate achievements prior to the
2020.
The exterior of the new Bridgwater Northgate site
merger? Since forming in 1945, WTW Cinemas has evolved to its current operation of four cinemas, all in central and eastern Cornwall. The cinemas are in Newquay, St. Austell, Truro and Wadebridge. St. Austell and Newquay are purpose built, new-build cinemas that opened in 2008 and 2011. Scott Cinemas has grown to operate seven cinemas from Barnstaple in North Devon, up to East Grinstead in West Sussex. October 2022 saw the company open our biggest cinema with a seven-screen complex in Bridgwater Northgate, with the other cinemas being located in Barnstaple, Bristol (Henleaze), East Grinstead, Exmouth, Newton Abbot and Sidmouth. For both companies, the cinemas are primarily in smaller towns and cities and form a key part of the local www.cinema-technology.com
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