THE FINAL curtain is set to fall on a much-loved independent cinema.

Redundancy notices were sent out this week to staff at The Savoy Cinema which will screen its last ever show in January.

Owner of the 460-seat venue, which opened in 1923, says the business has been haemorrhaging cash for the past two years.

Just two tickets were sold one night last month and a week later – on a Saturday night – just nine people watched a film at the Heaton Moor cinema.

"It’s like people are being treated to a private showing," said owner of 14 years Lisa Fan. "But we can’t go on like this.

"We have the most current films on but people just aren’t coming to us.

"My staff are absolutely devastated. They’re fantastic and some have been there for years.

"But ticket sales are not even covering their wages and I’m ploughing money into it just to keep it open."

Last week just 142 people attended the cinema, bringing in just over £600.

But weekly wages for the cinema’s four staff – a projectionist, kiosk attendant, ticket seller and an usher – come to £450.

That’s before heating, lighting, weekly film delivery, film and music licences, repair work and other hidden costs are taken out.

"I love the cinema and I’m really upset at having to close," said Mrs Fan, 58. "But I’ve got no choice. It’s taking peanuts and we just can’t keep it up."

The cinema has been on the market for more than three years for £1m or is available for lease at £70,000 per annum, through Roger Hannah.

Talks to save the cinema fell through in February this year after volunteer projectionist James Crompton, 24, and a group of investors couldn’t stump up the cash for the building.

He said: "The owner has worked extremely hard to keep it going over the years – it’s an old building and needs a lot of care.

"It’s a massive part of the local heritage and we believe it should be kept as a local cinema but unfortunately the owner just wants too much money for it."

The Barracuda Group had planned to build a huge pub on the site in 2006, but planning bosses kicked out the proposals.

The Savoy, designed by architects Pierce & Son with seating for more than 1,013, opened in 1923 despite furious protests by locals, including church groups.

In 1938, disaster was averted when fire swept through the building. When it reopened, the roof was replaced but the cinema remained identical to that destroyed by the fire.

The venue was the scene of controversy in 1958 when the Hammer Films version of Dracula was taken off after just three days, following protests and poor box office takings.

It closed for a revamp in 1970 and reopened boasting it would be the ‘ultimate in luxury cinema-going’.