Actor backs calls for reprieve for Lonsdale cinema in Penrith, close to where Withnail and I was filmed

This article is more than 9 years old

This article is more than 9 years old

The actor Richard E Grant is backing a campaign to save a cinema close to where the cult film Withnail and I was filmed almost a quarter of a century ago.

The 100-year-old Lonsdale cinema – known locally as the Alhambra – in the Cumbrian town of Penrith is facing closure within weeks because Graves, the company that owns it, wants to sell the loss-making bingo hall attached to it.

Grant and the comedian Eddie Izzard have signed an online petition – which currently has almost 3,000 signatories – urging a rethink. The cinema is scheduled to close on 3 March.

The nearest cinema to Penrith is in Carlisle, approximately 20 miles away. Every Sunday evening, the Alhambra, which has two screens seating 238 people, shows alternative films.

Richard E Grant said today: "I hope the petition has a positive response, especially as this historic century-old cinema has been such a success, condemned to close due the failure of the bingo hall in the same building."

Dawn Stobbart, who is leading the campaign, said the cinema was profitable "and in the last five years it has doubled its bums on seats figures from 30,000 to 60,000". She acknowledged that the landlords were very reasonable, but urged them to seek a viable alternative.

The Lonsdale boss Alan Towers had wanted to keep going, but said his landlords had other ideas for the building. He described the mood as "very sad".

The cinema's manager, Darren Horne, said: "People are far more angry than I thought they would be.

"We get stopped in the street by people asking what's on at the cinema. It is those connections that have made the impact so harshly felt."

Graves said the decision was taken with "sincere regret" and because the bingo hall had sustained losses over the past three years. The losses had partly been caused by the smoking ban, which has been disastrous for bingo halls.