CINEWORLD has warned audience numbers have been weaker than expected and predicted they will stay low until November due to “limited” film releases.

The world’s second-largest cinema business, which has a cinema in Bradford’s Leisure Exchange, said it is now assessing options to shore up its finances.

The group, which also owns the Picturehouse chain in the UK and Regal Cinemas in the US, had pinned its hopes on releases such as Top Gun: Maverick, The Batman and Thor: Love And Thunder to aid its recovery from the pandemic.

However, in a statement, the firm said recent admission levels had been “below expectations”.

The firm added: “These lower levels of admissions are due to a limited film slate that is anticipated to continue until November 2022 and are expected to negatively impact trading and the group’s liquidity position in the near term.”

Cineworld said it will continue with cost-saving plans but will also look at new options to improve its financial position.

The business, which was saddled with 4.8 billion dollars (£4 billion) of debt at the end of the last financial year, said it is in talks with stakeholders over potential funding or considering restructuring its balance sheet.