It’s was lights out at the last remaining cinema on Anglesey this week as a decline in bingo attendances forced its closure.

The Empire cinema, which originally opened in 1920, showed its last flick before the doors closed on the small Welsh Island.

The bingo hall on the cinema's ground floor recently closed because of a slump, forcing the owner to sell up.

The smoking ban which was introduced to Wales in April of last year has been blamed for the fall off in profits and subsequently the closure of the entertainment venue.

Owner Gareth Jones said he was "sad and disappointed" at having to sell the building and now film fans on the island face a 40 mile trip to a cinema at Llandudno Junction to see the latest movies.

Around 60 people watched the last showings of St Trinian's and Alien vs Predator.
 
Film programmer Steve Reynolds, who looks after hundreds of similar small cinemas across the UK, said it was a shock when he heard it had to close.

"We only heard in the first week in January that the cinema would have to close," said Mr Reynolds.

"It is a great shame for the island but also for the summer tourism market as there are very few entertainment venues on the island," he added.

 Slamming the smoking ban Mr. Jones said "The downturn in customers in bingo halls is not a local thing. Our profit went down 30% after the smoking ban came in, so that contributed towards it."

A report by analysts Mintel on Friday warned that the smoking ban is hitting bingo, with some 200 halls at risk of closure.

Profits from 2007 are down by as much as 45% at some bingo halls across the UK and more closures are expected in the coming months.

Also Mintel reported that admissions are set to drop by 8% again this year.