Cinema audiences at Lighthouse have doubled in the last two years, bucking a national trend that saw UK audiences fall slightly last year as the industry struggles to recover to pre-pandemic levels
Despite the opening of a major new out of town multiplex, film fans in Poole are rediscovering the joys of a carefully curated programme of mainstream Hollywood, as well as British, classic, world and independent titles at Lighthouse.
“We’re delighted that audiences have been visiting our Cinema in record numbers,” says Lighthouse Chief Executive Elspeth McBain.
“Lighthouse is proud to be Poole’s only independent cinema and the last year has seen us make our programme even more distinctive – with a new Family Films season funded by Film Hub South West, the screening of newly restored cult classics, and hand-picked choices from the Lighthouse team in our Staff Pics season.
“We also pride ourselves on a personal and warm welcome from our team and we have recently renovated our Cinema bar, making it a great place to meet with friends before the film.”
To reward its growing community of film lovers, Lighthouse has launched a new Film Pass which offers audiences the chance to enjoy more films for less with benefits including free tickets and exclusive discounts while helping support the work Lighthouse does in the wider community.
Film Pass is available in two levels, both single and joint. The standard pass costs from £40 a year and includes five free tickets to standard screenings and £2 off other tickets. The Unlimited pass, for dedicated film fans, costs from £25 a month and includes free admission to all standard screenings with £2 off a guest ticket.
Recent hits with Lighthouse audiences have included Hamnet, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, The Salt Path and The Roses, as well as the Encore screenings of theatrical hits like Prima Facie, The Audience and Present Laughter. An association with the BFI’s Film Audience Network resulted in the Too Much season of melodramas and the Family Film strand, which will be continuing, while the popular Silver Screen and Dementia Friendly screenings enjoy loyal audiences.
“It helps that we’re able to react quickly to what our audiences want,” adds Elspeth. “For instance, last week we were able to bring back the brilliant Best Picture Oscar-winner One Battle After Another, with Leonardo DiCaprio, for one last chance to enjoy it on the big screen.”
Last year, some 32,964 people watched films at Lighthouse compared to 16,891 in 2024. The arts centre also recorded a 41% increase on the cinema audience of 23,272 in 2025 to surpass the pre-pandemic figure of 27,198. Nationally, the UK cinema sector recorded 123.5 million admissions in 2025, 2.4% down year-on-year and 30% below the 176 million before the first Covid lockdown.
Lighthouse is one of the UK’s largest multi-venue arts centres with a concert hall, theatre, studio and cinema attracting more than 200,000 people last year – a ten-year high.
For more information about Lighthouse Film Pass, visit Lighthouse Film Pass – Lighthouse or call 01202 280000.
(NC)