The founder of Whitley Bay's independent cinema has received a prestigious British Empire medal for his work.
Dan Ellis, 33, was awarded the medal for services to cinema as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee honours, but with delays due to Her Majesty’s passing he finally received it just last week. The Jam Jar Cinema on Park Avenue has become one of the best-loved spots in town and beyond - back in 2020, it was named the best small business in the whole of the UK.
Dan was just 23 when he set up the cinema in 2013, hoping to bring the magic of cinema to the coastal town without the multiplex prices and inject some heart back into the movie-going experience - offering visitors “a cosy hug rather than a corporate handshake”, as Dan puts it. The Jam Jar name comes from the old tradition born in North Tyneside where locals would get into the cinema for a discounted price on the production of a glass jam jar.
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Now heading into its 10th year and run by a team of 11 staff members, the Jam Jar has three cinema screens with the biggest seating 47 and the smallest seating 29, as well as a bar in its warm and welcoming space. Visitors can catch everything from the latest Hollywood blockbusters to the best of the British independent film scene - next week, for instance, Marvel’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is showing on the same day as Blue Jean, an independent film about Section 28 set in 1980s Newcastle.
“For me, it’s always been about creating as magical and premium an experience as possible - but also affordable,” says Dan. “We appreciate that people haven’t got as much money in their pockets as they once did.”
And unlike the big chains that have long dominated the industry, Jam Jar has put its money where its mouth is when it comes to helping make the movies more accessible. The venue became England’s first ever ‘Pay As You Please’ cinema in 2019, offering three different price tiers for tickets to allow customers to choose a price that best suits their financial situation.
“It’s not just about films - it’s a way to get the community together,” Dan says of going to the cinema - and the fact that community is at the heart of the business is another thing that sets the Jam Jar apart from its competitors. The cinema will soon be screening To Leslie, the film for which Tyneside-born actress Andrea Riseborough is nominated for an Oscar - and all profit from ticket sales will be donated to local causes that help people who are affected by the issues explored in the film.
Although he finds it “embarrassing” to have received recognition for his work in the form of the British Empire medal, Dan is also incredibly proud of everything the cinema and its dedicated staff have achieved in the last decade. “I’ve got the best job in the world,” he says.
After an incredibly tough period fighting to survive during Covid restrictions, thankfully the has bounced back from the pandemic better than ever - with last year proving to be its most successful ever thanks to incredible support from the public. Dan is hoping to open a second Jam Jar venue in the region by the end of next year.
The Jam Jar is open every day of the week except Mondays, and is showing a range of films over February half term. Head over to the Jam Jar website to book tickets.
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