A buyer has been confirmed for the Abbeygate Picturehouse cinema in Bury St Edmunds.

It has been announced that Abbeygate Cinemas Limited has purchased the art house cinema, in Hatter Street, from City Screen Limited.

It follows the decision by the Competition Commission that Cineworld would have to sell one of two cinemas it owns in the town - the Abbeygate Picturehouse or the multiplex in Parkway.

The commission said Cineworld’s acquisition of City Screen Limited, which runs the Picturehouse chain, could lead to a substantial lessening of competition in three areas - Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge and Aberdeen - which could lead to higher prices for cinema goers.

The purchase has been led by former City Screen Limited founding partner Tony Jones.

Abbeygate Picturehouse will now been known as Abbeygate Cinema, and there will be a new logo and membership cards.

Pat Church, who has managed the cinema since 1975, said: “As far as I’m concerned it’s absolutely brilliant news for the cinema and for Bury St Edmunds.

“It’s taken so long to get to this point in time and to see it all come to fruition [is fantastic], and it’s exactly what we wanted it to be.”

He added: “From the customer point of view the only difference they will see is the logo change, and there will be new membership cards.”

Mr Church said there would be no job losses.

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