A local cinema has raised its prices for the first time since 2007 due to a ‘significant increase’ in overheads.

Plaza Cinema on Trinity Street, Dorchester, has announced that prices will rise for cinema tickets for the first time in 17 years.

The price of a standard ticket had been frozen to £3.50 since 2007, but a small increase to prices of other tickets was seen in February 2019.

Ticket prices are now set to increase as of today, Friday March 22, to an ‘all-week’ price of £5. Standard online tickets will be available for £5.45 which include the booking fee.

Picturedrome Cinemas, who run the Plaza, said they have held off from increasing prices to ensure that families ‘could all enjoy the wonders of cinema prices’ and blamed a ‘significant increase in overheads’ on the price rise.

In a statement on the Plaza Cinema's Facebook, a spokesperson for Picturedrome Cinemas, said: “We are very much aware of the cost-of-living crisis and the impact this has on the people who have continued to loyally support Picturedrome Cinemas.

“As a business Picturedrome is conscious of the importance of always keeping our prices as low as we can, to ensure we provide some of the best value cinema ticket prices available.

The spokesperson went on to say that the money paid for a ticket is divided between film distributors, VAT and running costs to maintain the cinema.

“We fully understand that this will not be the news you wish to hear, but we can assure you all as our loyal customers that we will only ever increase our prices on a needs must to keep the wonder of cinema on your local High Streets. Thank you for your support to date,” they added.

The Plaza cinema has enjoyed much success in Dorchester's town centre and was named among the top-rated independent cinemas in the country back in 2020.