An operator has been confirmed for the new seven-screen cinema set to form the backbone of a divisive shopping and leisure development in Ashington. Independent cinema chain Reel Cinemas, which runs 14 other cinemas across the UK, has signed a deal with development company Advance Northumberland to open at the empty Portland Park site in the Northumberland town.
The site had been slated as the new home of Northumberland County Council under the previous Labour administration, before the current Conservative group took control and opted to stay in Morpeth, putting forward a plan for shops, restaurants and a cinema in Ashington instead.
The development was branded the ‘Ashington Hole’ by campaigners, who argued it had been left empty for too long after the plans changed and slated the £5.53m cost of scrapping previous plans.
In April Northumberland County Council’s Cabinet set aside a £4.6m loan and a £3m grant for work on the 17,000 square foot, seven screen cinema and restaurant space.
formerly Mad Cornish Projectionist.