02/03/2026
METRO CINEMAS LAKE HAVEN CLOSES PERMANENTLY
Following the COVID pandemic cinemas globally suffered a severe downturn in admissions and revenue as customers turned to streaming. Consequently, cinema operators globally have had to renegotiate their rent to enable them to survive. Our rent at Lake Haven was set in 2014 with annual CPI increases; a rent which is unsustainable in the current market. We have been trying to renegotiate our rent with our landlord, Central Coast Council for many months, without success.
While Council has acknowledged that the current market rent is 45-55% below Metro Cinemas contracted rent, Council will not agree to a rent reduction. Metro Cinemas has been paying rent well above the current market rent however, is unable to continue to do so. It should also be noted that since the COVID pandemic Council has received millions of dollars in rent. The owners of the business have not received a dividend since 2020, preferring to keep the business operating for the benefit of our loyal employees and customers.
At Council’s meeting of 27 January 2026, it was resolved that Council will not renegotiate the existing rent with Metro Cinemas, and to test the market for a new cinema operator at Lake Haven. We respect Council’s decision and have offered to continue operating the cinema at a reduced commercial rent and hand the cinema over to a new operator when one if found. This would preserve our employees’ jobs, continue the cinema for local residents, and provide rental income to Council. Council has rejected this offer.
We have now been put in a position of having to appoint a Receiver to the business to meet our obligations under the Corporations Law. This has resulted in the immediate closure of the cinema with our 19 employees terminated.
We would like to thank our wonderful employees who have been the backbone of the business over the past 11 years. In particular, we would like to thank our Manager Rob Olive, who over the years has trained and mentored hundreds of young staff giving them the skills and confidence to exceed in their future employment.
To our loyal customers, it has been a pleasure to serve you over the past 11 years, and we hope that you have enjoyed your community cinema with heavily discounted tickets.
We close our doors with a heavy heart after exhausting all options to keep your community cinema open. We are proud of what we have been able to achieve, especially as we faced difficult operating conditions and we are sad that it has come to this.
For further information please contact your local Councillor-contact details attached.
The Directors
Metro Cinemas Lake Haven-2 March 2026
Lawrie McKinna
Mayor
[email protected]
0484 034 862
John Mouland
Deputy Mayor – Budgewoi Ward
[email protected]
0487 648 028
Helen Crowley
Budgewoi Ward
[email protected]
0457 406 024
Sharon Walsh
Gosford East Ward
Not officially published on profile
0474 168 339
Jared Wright
Gosford East Ward
[email protected]
0437 333 233
Trent McWaide
Gosford West Ward
[email protected]
0483 187 147
Belinda Neal
Gosford West Ward
[email protected]
0474 244 106
Jane Smith
Gosford West Ward
[email protected]
0488 152 296
Margot Castles
The Entrance Ward
[email protected]
0458 199 523
Rachel Stanton
The Entrance Ward
[email protected]
0475 730 194
Corinne Lamont
The Entrance Ward
[email protected]
0488 293 019
Kyla Daniels
Wyong Ward
[email protected]
0484 059 909
John McNamara
Wyong Ward
[email protected]
0474 570 896
