Cinema getting ready for its close up

Outside works are well underway at the new Reel Cinema in Blackburn town centre.

Outside works are nearly complete on the building, which will be a new eight-screen independent cinema for cinema operator Reel on the former Waves Leisure Centre Centre site in Blackburn town centre.

The site is located within the Northgate Conservation area and near to King George’s Hall and the old college building, therefore the materials used are respectful of the existing surroundings.

The main cinema structure is designed in a light brown colour to complement the surrounding stone and upper sections of the cinema in a textured cladding which will be finished in a colour to tone in with the surrounding red brickwork.

Some of the outside will also be finished in a pale gold material to complement the adjacent buildings – the gold cladding to Blackburn Sports and Leisure Centre and Feilden Street Car Park and the nearby Blackburn College building.

Barnfield Construction were selected as construction partner and started on site in August 2018, with full completion due in Summer 2020.

Blackburn Cinema is a new eight-screen independent cinema for cinema operator Reel being built on the former Waves Leisure Centre a site in Blackburn town centre.

It is the latest part of the borough’s scheme to regenerate the town centre and the night-time economy.

The 2,400m2 single storey cinema includes cafes, a dessert bar, an under-croft car park and a public realm outdoor space, better linking the Northgate – King George’s Hall – Blackburn College area of town.

The area around King George’s Hall, Northgate and Blakey Moor is set to be transformed in this ambitious project to revamp the entire space.

Councillor Phil Riley, Executive Member for Growth and Development at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, said:

It has been very exciting watching the work progress on this fantastic building, and the cladding is now bringing it all together, it looks really impressive.

The regeneration of the Northgate area is really coming along, and this is right at the centre of it all. It will be great to see it up and running in 2020.”