Establish an IMAX theatre in Aberdeen
The Issue
Growing up in Aberdeen, I’ve seen our city’s immense potential, but I've also felt the sting of a declining high street and a lack of modern entertainment options. Now, however, we stand at a turning point.
Aberdeen City Council is currently investing £150 million in the City Centre and Beach Masterplan, with £57 million specifically transforming our beachfront into a world-class destination. New parks, a sky tower, and an amphitheatre are on the way. But a world-class destination needs a world-class anchor attraction.
That’s where an IMAX theatre comes in.
This isn't a pipedream. In 2022, Cineworld was in active talks to bring an IMAX to the Queens Links Leisure Park on the beachfront. While that proposal stalled, the circumstances have now fundamentally changed. The council is spending millions to bring footfall back to the area. An IMAX would be the perfect private-sector partner to capitalize on that public investment.
Why an IMAX is the missing piece of the puzzle:
- Regional Draw: An IMAX is a "destination venue." It wouldn't just serve Aberdeen; it would pull visitors from Dundee, Inverness, and the Highlands, boosting our hotels, restaurants, and shops.
- Footfall for Union Street: By locating it near the city centre or beach, it would drive evening and weekend footfall, directly supporting the "Our Union Street" regeneration efforts.
- Proven Catalyst: In cities like Great Yarmouth, an IMAX is the central feature of a £100m regeneration project, proving that premium cinemas act as economic catalysts.
We aren't asking for a handout. We are asking the Council and local developers to actively facilitate a partnership with a major cinema chain. Use the new infrastructure we are already paying for to de-risk the investment for them. Make the IMAX the "jewel in the crown" of the new Aberdeen.
By investing in this modern entertainment infrastructure, we can create jobs, retain our young talent, and reignite the heartbeat of our Granite City.
We call on Aberdeen City Council to:
Formally re-engage with Cineworld and other major cinema operators regarding a beachfront or city-centre IMAX.
Offer business incentives (such as rates relief or planning fast-tracking) to make this project viable.
Sign today to show that Aberdeen is ready for a cinema experience that matches its ambitious future.
20
The Issue
Growing up in Aberdeen, I’ve seen our city’s immense potential, but I've also felt the sting of a declining high street and a lack of modern entertainment options. Now, however, we stand at a turning point.
Aberdeen City Council is currently investing £150 million in the City Centre and Beach Masterplan, with £57 million specifically transforming our beachfront into a world-class destination. New parks, a sky tower, and an amphitheatre are on the way. But a world-class destination needs a world-class anchor attraction.
That’s where an IMAX theatre comes in.
This isn't a pipedream. In 2022, Cineworld was in active talks to bring an IMAX to the Queens Links Leisure Park on the beachfront. While that proposal stalled, the circumstances have now fundamentally changed. The council is spending millions to bring footfall back to the area. An IMAX would be the perfect private-sector partner to capitalize on that public investment.
Why an IMAX is the missing piece of the puzzle:
- Regional Draw: An IMAX is a "destination venue." It wouldn't just serve Aberdeen; it would pull visitors from Dundee, Inverness, and the Highlands, boosting our hotels, restaurants, and shops.
- Footfall for Union Street: By locating it near the city centre or beach, it would drive evening and weekend footfall, directly supporting the "Our Union Street" regeneration efforts.
- Proven Catalyst: In cities like Great Yarmouth, an IMAX is the central feature of a £100m regeneration project, proving that premium cinemas act as economic catalysts.
We aren't asking for a handout. We are asking the Council and local developers to actively facilitate a partnership with a major cinema chain. Use the new infrastructure we are already paying for to de-risk the investment for them. Make the IMAX the "jewel in the crown" of the new Aberdeen.
By investing in this modern entertainment infrastructure, we can create jobs, retain our young talent, and reignite the heartbeat of our Granite City.
We call on Aberdeen City Council to:
Formally re-engage with Cineworld and other major cinema operators regarding a beachfront or city-centre IMAX.
Offer business incentives (such as rates relief or planning fast-tracking) to make this project viable.
Sign today to show that Aberdeen is ready for a cinema experience that matches its ambitious future.
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on 18 August 2026