Independent cinema operator Stevens Cinemas has been forced to sell its leasehold on the Central Cinema in Market Place, Fakenham, Norfolk, after failing to attract enough visitors.

The company, founded by Gary Stevens, only acquired the property a year ago from Hollywood Cinemas. The lease has now been taken back by Trevor Wicks, controlling owner of Hollywood Cinemas, which operates sites in Norwich, Dereham and Great Yarmouth

Stevens said that as a single site business, the Central Cinema Fakenham could not survive into the future with the weight of the financial demands placed on it.

He said: "The backing could not be found to make the necessary changes to drive the business forward and to that end the Cinema needs to be part of a bigger group in order to make safe the future of the staff and the complex.

"With the prospect of a hard winter and huge energy bills, I had to see what else I could do. It was no good living my dream any more.

"There is a saying 'better to have run and lost than never to have run at all'. I am grateful, however, for the knowledge and experience gained from that turbulent run.

"During the past twelve months I have experienced both the loneliness and sometimes the tremendous job satisfaction in owning a small cinema business."

Hollywood Cinemas will integrate the film programming and complex into the group from Friday 26 March 2010.