Yes, but it was taken over by Irish chain Omniplex earlier this year and reopened in July 2024.

Reopening this summer as an Omniplex. The Irish-based cinema chain have bought the cinema and have pledged to spend £3.5 million on refurbishing the cinema with electric recliner seats as standard, sofa beds in some screens, an OmniplexMAXX screen (judging by the pictures of other MAXX screens and the descriptions in the media they're like the Superscreen at Cineworld Warrington - massive screen and Dolby Atmos 3D sound - but with electric recliner seats) and increased food and drink choices.

Showcase Cinemas have never been taken over. They're owned by American conglomerate National Amusements, and they're the primary shareholders of Paramount Global (and Paramount Pictures by extension).

Yep and he never got it.

Many thanks for the for you comment as a protectionist I miss true film as it was then 35mm real shame it's gone and replaced with digital projection 👍

I have never really noticed the difference between a Virgin cinema and a Vue, Empire or whatever Robin Park is called now tbh as they all look the same apart from the name. I never knew until recently that multiscreens have been around in the UK since the early 90s; MGM (later named Showcase) at Edge Lane in Liverpool was an 8 screen cinema as early as 1991, and UCI at Warrington had 10 screens, again this was 1991. Seems that Wigan was abit stuck in the past.

@@Embracing01 The first multiplex in the UK was the AMC at The Point, Milton Keynes, which opened in 1985. You're getting your Liverpool cinemas muddled up - the Showcase is on the East Lancs Road at Norris Green, and that opened in December 1989. The one you're thinking of, the MGM on Edge Lane, became a Virgin, then a UGC, then finally a Cineworld before closing in 2016. Empire Wigan closed in July last year when Empire Cinemas went into administration. In fact all but five of Empire's cinemas were closed. Those five have since been taken over by Irish cinema chain Omniplex, and it's been announced today that Omniplex have also acquired the former Empire Wigan and will spend £3.5 million on refurbishments. It's due to reopen in the summer. To go back to your first point, the interior of Virgin/UGC/Cineworld/Empire Wigan hadn't really changed since it opened. Hadn't really moved with the times. I hope Omniplex can turn that around, I really do.

@@Embracing01 Thankfully the Irish chain Omniplex have done a good job bringing the Wigan cinema experience kicking and screaming into the 21st century. Electric recliner seats, a larger choice of hot food options from Joe's food truck, a beer and cocktail van and generally making it a nice place to go.