A job advert posted for a North East cinema which, much to residents despair, closed for good last summer has sparked rumours of a revival on the horizon.

The now abandoned Empire Cinema in Sunderland City Centre, which was the only cinema in the city, appears to be advertising for a general manager sparking rumours it is set to re-open soon.

Appearing to be taking over the cinema is Irish-founded chain Omniplex, who posted the job listing online and is set to pay the winning candidate up to £40,000 a year.

The Northern Echo: Empire Cinema Sunderland.Empire Cinema Sunderland. (Image: LDRS)

Omniplex, who operate sixteen cinemas in Northern Ireland and five in England haven't confirmed any news of a takeover as of yet.

The job advert says: "Would you like to join a growing company in an exciting industry? If so we are currently recruiting a General Manager for our state-of-the-art all-digital Sunderland Omniplex!

"This is a senior role with a high degree of responsibility.

"Omniplex Cinema Group is a diverse leisure and entertainment company primarily consisting of cinema operations and leisure orientated property investments.

"A typical Omniplex cinema location ranges from 4 - 14 screens and are in most major cities and towns in Ireland,Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

"We are the market leaders in cinema, with state of the art technology, ensuring our customers enjoy the best experience possible!"

This listing comes eight months after Sunderland's twelve-screen cinema closed its doors for good after operator Empire Cinemas fell into administration.

In recent months, the council has revealed spending proposals for the refurbishment and re-fit of the Sunniside Leisure complex, where the cinema is located.

Capital investment proposed for the 2024/25 financial year aims to bring vacant units at the leisure complex back into use, with council documents confirming the local authority was in discussion with “a number of potential tenants”.

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At a council scrutiny committee in December, 2023, it was confirmed the council was “actively in dialogue with three or four potential operators” looking to take on the site and to run it as a cinema once again.

In Fabruary, Sunderland City Council’s Labour leader confirmed the council is in the “advanced stages of agreeing a lease” for a cinema operator at the site, but no specific operator was named.

Sunderland City Council have been contacted for more information.