A CINEMA complex once heralded as the most advanced in the UK looks set to close after 14 years in business.

The owners of the Warner Village multiplex at Manors, in Newcastle, said yesterday that the site could be demolished for redevelopment.

Vue Entertainment, which bought the Warners cinema chain in May last year, confirmed it is in talks with a mystery company that wants to buy the site.

A Chiquitos restaurant and a pizza bar have already closed on the site, and the loss of the cinema would result in more than 60 redundancies.

A Vue spokesman said: "Talks about the sale of the site are ongoing and have reached a very advanced stage. If things do go through as expected, it will mean the Warner Village will cease to trade.

"For reasons of confidentiality, we are not releasing the identity of the developer we are in negotiations with.

"If the closure goes ahead, we will be looking at alternative locations for a multiplex in the North-East in line with our national plans for the company."

The £5m cinema was opened by Australian superstar Kylie Minogue in December 1989.

Packed with the very latest projection and sound technology, it was vaunted as one of the most advanced in the world.

In recent months the cinema has come under increasingly fierce competition following the successful opening of a city centre Odeon, in The Gate entertainment complex.

Published: 13/01/2004