Interview with Tivoli Cinema
Can you introduce yourself and tell me a little bit about your background?
I’ve worked in hospitality since 30th September 2002 that’s the exact date I started, back when I was a 17-year-old glass collector in a nightclub. Since then, it’s been over 20 years in the industry, and I’ve had the chance to work across a range of environments, from nightclubs and bars to restaurants, and now cinema.
Before joining Tivoli, I was the Operations Manager for the West at Brewhouse & Kitchen. I was responsible for around 10 sites, including Cheltenham, and I’m based locally in Gloucester. Prior to that, I spent five years as General Manager at Brewhouse & Kitchen Gloucester Quays, which helped me build really strong connections in the area.
In that ops role, I was managing venues across a wide area, and while I didn’t mind the travel or the mileage, it’s difficult to truly nurture talent and build meaningful relationships with people when they’re 150 miles away.
How did Tivoli Cinema start and what inspired it?
Everyman acquired Tivoli from Empire Cinemas when they went into administration in 2023. They saw an opportunity to take on a couple of the Empire sites and here in Cheltenham and also Bath as both locations really fit the group’s profile.
We’re now up to just over 50 cinemas as a business, and both Cheltenham and Bath align really well with the kind of environments Everyman operates in. They were natural fits from the start in terms of style and offering.
Here in Cheltenham, we’ve continued trading as Tivoli because the Everyman brand is already so closely aligned with what we do. In contrast, the Bath site has fully transitioned to Everyman Bath, even though it was also originally a Tivoli. For us, keeping the Tivoli identity works and it allows us to feel part of a bigger group while still maintaining something quite unique and standalone.
We do look a bit different from some of the other Everyman sites, and that individuality is definitely part of what makes this venue special.
For me, it’s all about making cinema feel like more of an experience, rather than just another large multiplex with multiple screens and fast, transactional service. I see what we offer as much more of an occasion and because we have fewer screens, we have to be really selective about the films we show. We want to make the most of each screen, but more importantly, we want to focus on what people genuinely want to watch and enjoy.
Alongside that, a big part of the experience is our food and drink offering, this is something we place a lot of emphasis on. We also have a large lounge area, which helps create a relaxed, high-quality, almost luxury feel from the moment people walk in. It all adds to making a trip to the cinema feel that bit more special.
Are there any new services that this Tivoli is going to be doing this year at all?
We’ve recently introduced a Family Film Club, which is really focused around school holidays. It’s designed to give families a more affordable way to come to the cinema, with discounted tickets for both kids and adults. Screenings tend to run during off-peak times/ mainly weekend mornings and throughout the holidays. We show some of the latest family-friendly films at a better price point.
We have Relaxed Screening which launched at the end of June. This will be presented in a way that’s designed to feel more comfortable and inclusive for everyone, this special screening is ideal for guests who may find a standard cinema experience overwhelming. This enables us to make a series of thoughtful adjustments, including lower sound levels, soft low lighting throughout, and no trailers or adverts, alongside a more relaxed approach to movement, noise, phones and sensory aids. The aim is to create a welcoming space where more people can enjoy the magic of cinema in a way that works for them.
We’ve also started a partnership with Ella’s Kitchen for our Baby Club. They’re supporting us over the next year, and for each screening we’ll be giving out samples, which is a great added touch for parents. It’s all about giving mums and dads something a bit different to do, outside of the usual baby groups, and making it a more enjoyable, social experience.
Ultimately, while offers like these are important, price isn’t the main thing I focus on. For me, it’s always about the overall experience making sure guests feel looked after and that the service really stands out.
What three words would you use up to sum up the brand of Tivoli?
Warm
Memorable
Accessible to everyone
What would you say is the biggest challenges facing businesses in Cheltenham right now?
I think one of the biggest challenges right now is the general uncertainty and the cost of living. It’s something everyone talks about, but it genuinely affects how people spend. When things get tight, people start questioning the “luxuries” in their lives.
That said, from my experience, people don’t stop going out altogether, they just become more mindful about what they spend. It’s important for people to still have that bit of escapism, even if they’re not going all in.
For us, it’s that balance alongside things like the film schedule. If there aren’t many strong releases, or even when the weather’s really good, it can have an impact. Ultimately we can’t control the economy or the weather, but we can control the experience people have when they walk through our doors.
How would you describe Tivoli’s role within the business community?
Ultimately, we bring people into town last year alone, we welcomed around 130,000 guests.
That doesn’t just benefit us; it means people are also visiting other local businesses, whether that’s coffee shops, the arcade for shopping, or going out for food. We give people a reason to come into the area.
We’ve built some really strong relationships with our neighbours as well. I don’t think the site has always had that to the same extent, but now we work closely with nearby businesses.
It’s important to us that we support the local community, and that goes both ways. We look after other businesses and their teams, whether that’s inviting them in to watch films or offering a bit of hospitality with food, drinks, or guest passes.
and finally…
None of it happens without the team. They create the atmosphere our guests remember, and that’s something we’ve worked really hard on since I joined the business. Since joining Tivoli, one of my biggest focuses has been making sure we’re part of the wider Cheltenham community rather than just somewhere people come to watch a film. Whether that’s through initiatives like our Relaxed Screenings, working more closely with the BID and neighbouring businesses or simply encouraging people to spend time in the town before and after their visit, it’s become a really important part of what we’re trying to do
Everyman is redefining cinema. Bringing an innovative lifestyle approach to our venues, where you swap your soft drink for a nice glass of red wine and a slice of freshly made pizza served to your seat.
We create a warm and friendly atmosphere, with excellent food and drink selection and fantastic customer service. With a wide array of mainstream, independent and classic films, special events, launches and a diverse calendar of live satellite broadcasts, there is something for everyone at Everyman.
Opening Hours
Monday-Sunday 9:00am –until late