Everyman Cinema Faces Losses, CEO Resignation, and Profit Warning

The Story

Luxury cinema chain Everyman issued a profit warning in early December 2025, prompting a near 20% drop in market value. Days later the finance director disclosed his departure, and by the end of December CEO Alex Scrimgeour resigned. The company has not reported a pre-tax profit since 2019 and has accumulated over £56m in pre-tax losses over the past six years.

Key Facts

• Everyman operates 49 sites nationwide, having grown from a single venue in Hampstead.
• A profit warning in early December 2025 wiped almost a fifth off market value.
• The finance director left days after the profit warning, and CEO Alex Scrimgeour resigned at the end of December 2025.
• Share price has fallen almost 80% over five years.
• More than £56m in pre-tax losses over six years; no pre-tax profit since 2019.
• Debt stands at £21.6m.
• Interim CEO Farah Golant (aged 61) was appointed on the day of Scrimgeour’s departure, having joined the board in September 2025. She froze expansion to focus on debt reduction. Share price rose 24% to 36p since the start of 2026.
• Potential changes include pre-ordering and a stronger membership scheme (membership grew 18.5% to 67,000 in 2025, fees from £95 to £680 annually).
• Market value is £32m, the same as when Everyman listed in 2013.
• Largest shareholder Blue Coast (owned by the Lewis family, founders of River Island) has increased its stake to over 29%.
• Foundational families – Lewises, Kayes, Dorfman – together control more than 50% of Everyman.
• UK box office in 2025 was £989.5m, highest since 2019, but admissions fell to 123.5m, still 30% below pre-pandemic levels.
• Analyst David Hancock said Everyman “lost its edge” and faces more competition from Odeon and Vue premium concepts.
• Analyst Andrew Renton described Everyman as having “very strong brand equity” like Waitrose.

Conflicting Reports

No conflicting reports identified in the source article.

Still Unclear

No open questions identified in the source article.

Misconceptions

No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.

Key Figures

• Alex Scrimgeour: Former CEO of Everyman (joined 2021, resigned December 2025).
• Farah Golant: Interim CEO appointed December 2025; previously ran All3Media and an advertising company.
• David Hancock: Chief analyst for media and entertainment at Omdia.
• Andrew Renton: Research director at Cavendish.
• Lewis family (Blue Coast): Largest shareholder, founders of River Island.
• Adam and Sam Kaye: Founders of Ask and Zizzi pizza chains; Adam is an executive director.
• Lloyd Dorfman: Founder of Travelex, former director.
• Charles Dorfman: Board member for 17 years, appointed interim creative director in February 2026.
• Gresham House: Private equity group with 9.54% stake.

Sources: The Guardian