Six-screen Reel Cinema coming to Kirkby

Regeneration firm St. Modwen has signed a deal to bring leisure operator Reel Cinemas to Kirkby.

The company will establish a 15,000 sq ft six-screen cinema in the Town Centre development, as part of a wider leisure scheme that will replace the former library on Newtown Gardens and include three new leisure units.

St. Modwen will submit a planning application later this year for a planned opening in 2018, once it has identified occupiers for the new leisure units.

The space is being marketed by joint agents Cheetham & Mortimer and Colliers.

St. Modwen projects director Paul Batho said: “Exchanging with Reel Cinemas marks a significant step forward in our development plans for Kirkby Town Centre.

“We know that the people of Kirkby want more leisure amenities in the town and a new cinema will make a big difference in transforming the town.”

He added: “We are also in talks with several national operators who are interested in the leisure units and we hope to make further announcements soon.”

With 15 sites in the UK, Reel Cinemas is one of the country’s biggest independent cinema operators.

Reel Cinemas’ property director, Chris Morgan-Giles, commented: “We are delighted to complete on the deal to bring a six-screen Reel Cinema to Kirkby.

“We look forward to bringing the people of Kirkby the quality cinema experience we know they have wanted for a number of years.”

He added: “We are continuing to grow the Reel Cinema’s brand and Kirkby is one of four new cinemas we are bringing to the North West.”

Elsewhere, St. Modwen submitted a planning application to Knowsley Council in February for the Kirkby Town Centre redevelopment’s retail phase, which includes a supermarket, shops, parking, enhanced pedestrian links, public realm and landscaping.

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