Oldham’s Medlock FRB chosen for £1m cinema refurb

Medlock FRB has secured a seven-figure contract to deliver a “major overhaul” of a cinema in Wiltshire.

The Oldham-based leisure contractor will carry out a £1m upgrade of the Astoria in Chippenham.

The refurb will see the cinema, run by family-owned operator Reel, expand from a two-screen venue to five.

Medlock will convert a former bingo hall and retail space into additional screen rooms with a new entrance, foyer and concession area. The firm is also installing new seating with extra legroom.

The project will be carried out in phases to enable the cinema to remain open throughout.

Medlock has worked on briefs for a number of cinema companies, including Empire, Curzon and Cineworld. The firm also refurbished Reel Cinemas’ venue in Burnley.

The total value of its cinema contracts to date is now over £4m.

Medlock’s head of business development, Steve Taylor, said: “We’re delighted to secure a further project with one of the country’s leading independent cinema operators.

“It will involve a major overhaul of the only cinema in the town, creating a greatly improved leisure amenity for the people of Chippenham and the surrounding area.”

He added: “Having completed various cinema projects in recent years, this is a further demonstration of our expertise and knowledge of this fast-paced and competitive industry.”

Work on the Astoria is due for completion by the summer.