Vue Cinema will close its doors in Cambridge in summer 2025, bringing an end to years of affordable screenings at its eight-screen venue in The Grafton centre.
The closure was confirmed this week by Vue, which described the decision as “difficult” but necessary. A spokesperson said the location was “no longer the right location” for Vue in the city, but added that the cinema would continue operating until its final showings next summer. Staff are being supported during the transition, with consultations already underway.
While Vue declined to say whether The Grafton centre’s future plans influenced its decision, the move follows major redevelopment proposals for the site and the adjacent Abbeygate House. The centre is set to be partially demolished and replaced with life sciences laboratories, retail and dining spaces, a hotel, and a new public square.
Originally, the cinema and gym were expected to remain as part of the site’s leisure offering. However, the decision by Vue means the city will lose one of its most accessible and well-attended cinemas.
Vue’s departure will leave Cambridge residents with three main options: The Light Cinema at Cambridge Leisure Park, Cambridge Arts Picturehouse in St Andrew’s Street, and Everyman Cinema, which opened in the Grand Arcade last year.
As The Grafton centre prepares to enter a new era focused on science and enterprise, Cambridge’s cinema landscape faces a reshuffle — and a nostalgic farewell to one of its most affordable venues.
