Oxford United owner Firoz Kassam has sold his multiplex cinema on land adjoining the football club's stadium to major national operator Vue.

Two years ago a deal with Vue fell through and Mr Kassam decided to set up his own team to run the nine-screen £8m multiplex without the help of an operating chain, claiming it was "not rocket science".

When the earlier deal failed some experts claimed that without the muscle of a major operator, Mr Kassam would be unable to obtain major new releases from the film distributors. He has proved them wrong.

He said: "The aim has always been to provide leisure facilities for Oxford. It proved difficult to attract an operator at first, but we took up the challenge and have shown that it can work here.

"I am pleased to welcome such a prestigious and forward-looking company as Vue to the Ozone. This is an exciting move which will benefit the whole site, and complement both the existing companies and the exciting developments planned for the future."

He added: "I said we could run the cinema successfully and we did. It was very profitable. I am selling the lease because the cinema is not part of my core business." He added that the 30 staff at the cinema would be retained.

Buying the Oxford cinema for an undisclosed price brings the total of Vue multiplexes in Britain and Ireland to 50.

Chief executive of Vue Entertainments, Tim Richards, said: "We are delighted to welcome the Ozone Cinema into the Vue family. It is a high quality state-of-the-art cinema which further enhances and supports Vue's position as the UK's leading cinema operator.

"We look forward to working with the management team to continue and enhance the offering of great movies and events for the local community. The cinema will rebrand to Vue in the near future."

Last year Mr Kassam defied Oxford City Council by continuing to show films on days when the Kassam Stadium was in use, despite a planning restriction. In the end a public inquiry found in his favour.

Vue spokesman Adam Murray said the row had nothing to do with the delay in buying the complex.

He added: "The acquisition fitted our expansion plans at this stage, particularly as it has been a proven success." What he still owns Firoz Kassam bought Oxford United in 1999 for £1, plus taking on the club's debts.

He bought the adjoining land, now the Ozone Leisure area, from Oxford City Council after it had been valued at £1.5m -- a valuation the district auditor is now questioning.

Businesses now leased out on the Ozone include the cinema, a gym, a hotel, a bowling alley, and a health centre.

He also owns:

The 280-bedroom Heythrop Park Hotel, golf and country club set in 440 acres, near Enstone, a Palladian mansion once the property of the Duke of Beaufort

Bedlow Manor golf and conference centre, Bedfordshire, which has more than 700 members and two 18-hole golf courses

Operates the Holiday Inn hotels at King's Cross and Old Street, London, plus two London restaurants

The Holiday Inn Express at the Kassam Stadium

In addition, this year he bought 172 year-old 57-bedroom Studley Castle, Warwickshire, from collapsed MG Rover for £4.5m.