CINEWORLD has been named as the operator for a new 2,500 seat town centre cinema for Warrington town centre.
Warrington Borough Council (WBC) in partnership with Warrington & Co., have announced today, Thursday, September 17) that a deal has been signed with cinema operator Cineworld to open a site in the centre of Warrington as part of the Bridge Street Quarter regeneration scheme.
When the cinema opens in 2019, Cineworld will be the anchor tenant of the 300,000 sq. ft. retail and leisure-led Bridge Street development and will provide Warrington with a state-of-the-art, 13 screen, 2,500 seat, multiplex, multiscreen cinema.
When complete, the £107 million project will comprise the cinema, a new 42,000 sq. ft. market hall, several family restaurants, a new 1,100 space multi-storey car park, new Council offices, retail units and a new public square. The 45,514 sq. ft. cinema will be constructed to Cineworld’s latest specification which will set new standards and further improve the experience for customers.
The Bridge Street Quarter scheme will provide high quality day time and evening facilities, which will be a huge advantage to the town centre and surrounding areas and create a significant boost to the local economy.
The multiplex will offer a next generation cinema experience, anchored by Cineworld’s unique Super Screen stadium theatre which will include a wall to wall full height screen, dual projectors giving a brighter 3D experience and multiple Dolby Atmos speakers providing breath-taking multidimensional sound.
Speaking about the announcement Leader of Warrington Borough Council, Councillor Terry O’Neill (pictured) said: “The signing of Cineworld is a major coup for Warrington town centre and is a huge stride forward for the Bridge Street regeneration scheme. The offer to the public is fantastic and we are thrilled that Cineworld have chosen to open in Warrington. Their decision demonstrates the appeal of Warrington as a location and the confidence that leading names within the retail and leisure industry have in the town.”
Kevin Frost, Property Director for Cineworld said: “We are delighted to have found the perfect home for our new cinema in Warrington. The proposed scheme will give us the room to offer our new customers the full choice of movies and formats available.”
Steve Park, managing director, Warrington & Co., Warrington’s partnership for economic growth added: ‘The Bridge Street Quarter scheme is a key economic driver in Warrington’s ambitious framework for growth, Warrington Means Business and Warrington & Co. is proud to be leading its delivery. The new Cineworld multiplex along with the restaurants, new market hall, civic offices and public square will be a massive draw into the town centre’.
David Burkinshaw, development director at Muse Developments, said: “This is excellent news for the Bridge Street Quarter project and Warrington as a whole. We’re delighted to be working with Cineworld, Warrington & Co. and the Council to deliver this transformational scheme for the town. It will provide a brand new leisure destination, which will provide the very best amenities for local residents and ensure that the town continues to attract visitors from across the region.”
The Bridge Street Quarter Regeneration scheme is one of the most significant projects currently being progressed as part of the Warrington Means Business regeneration framework being driven and delivered by Warrington & Co. on behalf of Warrington Borough Council.
It will create up to 400 construction jobs and 400 new permanent jobs in the leisure, retail and restaurant sectors when the whole project is fully completed in 2019.
Designed and Masterplanned by Manchester based practice Leach Rhodes Walker, the new cinema is a 21st century design and brings the latest cinema experience to Warrington with full raked seating, the latest standards and full disabled access. The design is intended to be a striking addition to the town that helps identify this as a unique destination, with a unique façade design unlike any other scheme. Quality is paramount and integration into the town is achieved through materials and architectural features, with reference Warrington’s industrial heritage.
The cinema forms the centrepoint to the new public realm, and sits nestled between the restaurants feeding off the new external space, which then integrates seamlessly into the rest of the town centre.
The Bridge Street Scheme started on site earlier this year with the demolition of the former Time Square area adjacent to the Warrington Market hall. Warrington Market will continue to trade and is an important and integral part of the Bridge Street regeneration project
The first element of the Bridge Street Quarter Regeneration Scheme to be built in 2016 is a retail structure that will become a temporary market hall on the site of what is currently Time Square. The market will move into this temporary location in early 2017 during the demolition period and whilst the new, permanent £10 million market hall is being constructed. At no time will the market cease to trade. The new market building will open in 2019.
A new, 217 space temporary car-park will also be constructed on land between Bank Street, Academy Way and Academy Street to support the Bridge Street development. A planning application was submitted earlier this month.
Plans will shortly be submitted for approval to construct the new 1,100 space, multi-storey car park that will support entire Bridge Street scheme.
