Tenby's historic Royal Playhouse cinema closed its doors for what could be the last time on Monday.
Last week, the Observer revealed that the future of the cinema - which has been operating in White Lion Street for over 100 years and is the only one in south Pembrokeshire - was under threat following a dispute between its owner and Pembrokeshire County Council.
Mr. Graham Fry - whose family has owned the cinema for the last 30 years - said last week that the Playhouse was likely to close at the end of the month owing to the county council's 'unreasonable attitude' over the granting of a cinema licence.
He accused the council of 'continually moving the goalposts' every year by introducing new legislation which had to be complied with and felt that their latest demand for a complete risk assessment survey of the building by the Mid and West Wales Fire Brigade could be too big a hurdle for the cinema to 'hop over'.
Mr. Fry was concerned that, even though he has made recommended improvements to the building year on year, the Fire Brigade report would mean that he would have to spend as much as £20,000 to bring the Playhouse up to a standard now deemed 'reasonable' by the county council.
With the cinema business only having a 'limited pocket', Mr. Fry said that he was awaiting the Fire Brigade report before making a final decision, but warned the general public that "the likely event would be that the cinema will close and an alternative use found for the building."
However, on Monday, cinema-goers hoping to see the Nicholas Cage/Vinnie Jones thriller 'Gone In 60 Seconds' were surprised to see the building in darkness and a sign on the door saying that it was 'closed until further notice'.
Speaking to the Observer on Wednesday, Mr. Fry said that the cinema had been closed by Pembrokeshire County Council pending the outcome of an appeal lodged by him which is due to be heard at the end of the month.