An Ayrshire cinema operator has been awarded an MBE in the King’s New Year Honours list. Geoff Graves, founder and owner of Merlin Cinemas, was chosen to receive the award for services to the cinema sector. Merlin Cinemas was founded in the 1990s and now operates 20 cinemas across the UK including the Astoria Cinema in Ayr.
Ayrshire cinema goers were left in a lurch when Odeon pulled out of the venue on Ayr’s Burns Statue Square before Merlin took over the premises and reopened the cinema in March 2024. It has since gone from strength to strength with more than 75,000 tickets sold in the first six months under the Astoria banner. In October, it was announced that Merlin Cinemas would become an employee-owned venture following a surprise company shakeup. Geoff has worked in the cinema industry since he was 16 before acquiring his first cinema in 1990. The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now. Get all the local news in your area – plus features, football news and the latest on the coronavirus crisis – at your fingertips 24/7. The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories while you can customise your page with the sections that matter to you. The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now on iOS and Android. Posting on Facebook, Astoria Cinema Ayr congratulated Geoff for the award. They said: “We’re kicking off 2025 on a high note with some incredible news. “Merlin Cinemas' founder, Geoff Greaves, has been awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours List by His Majesty the King for his outstanding services to cinema. “A huge congratulations to Geoff on this well-deserved recognition of his passion and dedication to keeping the magic of cinema alive in local communities.” Don't miss the latest Ayrshire headlines –sign up to our free daily newslette